
What is the habitat of Selaginella?
Most of the species of Selaginella grow on the ground in humid, shady habitats. A few species are xerophytic and grow in arid conditions on exposed rock surfaces (5. pilifera; S. lepidophylla). They have the ability to survive desiccation.
What is the scientific name of Selaginella?
Selaginella Selaginella is a genus of lycophytes commonly known as spike mosses. The genus includes around 700 species of primitive vascular plants that are found in a wide range of habitats in most regions of the world. Spike mosses are spore producing plants and are most closely related to quillworts.
Does Selaginella have a cell wall?
In some species of Selaginella, the cell wall formation continues until the megagametophyte is entirely cellular. In some species, e.g., S. kraussiana, the apical patch of cells is separated from the rest of the gametophyte by conspicuous arching diaphragm (wall).
Is Selaginella braunii an evergreen?
Selaginella braunii is an interesting plant that has bright green foliage (leaves in summers). In contrast, the leaves turn russet red or light brown during winters, making a perfect ornamental species for your outdoor garden. Besides, it is an evergreen plant providing perfect ornamentation to grow near the cabanas and backyard pavilions.
See more
Where is Selaginella located?
Selaginella occurs mostly in the tropical regions of the world, with a handful of species to be found in the arctic-alpine zones of both hemispheres.
Where does Selaginella grow?
Many types of a Selaginella plant can be found growing wild in tropical America, Asia, China, Japan, North America, Mexico, South Africa and Australia. A Selaginella plant, depending upon the variety, may be a creeping, climbing, or trailing plant.
Is Selaginella poisonous?
Selaginella 'Aurea' has no toxic effects reported.
Can Selaginella grow in water?
Selaginella Lepidophylia It has dense clusters of dark green leaves that have a scaly appearance. It is a creeping variety that grows to about 3 inches high and 6 inches wide. This is one of the easiest of the species to grow as it only requires a shallow dish with gravel, little water, and indirect, bright sunlight.
Is Selaginella an indoor plant?
Selaginella plants like temperatures ranging from 50°-75° F. Because of this, some varieties can work well as houseplants, but they are more commonly found growing outdoors.
What plant is baby tears?
Soleirolia soleiroliiBaby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a mat-forming tropical perennial with myriad tiny leaves. Often confused as a type of moss, it comes from the nettle family. What makes baby's tears special is its dense, delicate mat of fine round or bean-shaped leaves on short, fleshy stems.
Is Selaginella pet friendly?
Toxicity: Non-toxic to cats, dogs and humans. Potting Mix: Fast draining but also able to hold some moisture. Additional Care: Brown and shriveled leaves indicates low humidity. Prune to control the size and growth of the plant.
Is Selaginella a moss?
spike moss, (family Selaginellaceae), family of more than 700 species of mossy or fernlike seedless vascular plants of the order Selaginellales. The family consists of a single genus, Selaginella. They are widely distributed in all parts of the world, particularly in the tropics.
How do you grow Selaginella indoors?
Club Moss, Spike Moss Indoors (Selaginella species)Plant Feed. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly.Watering. Keep soil evenly moist.Soil. Best in organic-rich, well-drained soil.Basic Care Summary. Keep soil evenly moist. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during active growth. Keep away from drafts.
Is Selaginella an outdoor plant?
Lighting Needs for Selaginella Plants It prefers full shade, whether grown as an outdoor plant or in a terrarium. It can do well in low light with a bit of bright light but needs semi-shade. The more light this indoor plant gets, the greener the foliage is.
What kind of soil does Selaginella like?
Selaginella kraussiana feels most comfortable in well-draining soils. As far as soil pH goes, aim for either neutral or acidic soil. A soil pH of around 6 yields good results. Humus-rich soil is recommended.
How big does Selaginella grow?
Selaginella Lepidophylia It creeps on the ground and can barely grow up to 3 inches tall, but typically spreads about 6 inches wide. Since it's a drought-tolerant species, the plant is popularly known for ''resurrecting” by turning entirely brown under neglect, then turn green once again after watering.
Where do selaginella plants grow?
Most of the species of Selaginella grow on the ground in humid, shady habitats. A few species are xerophytic and grow in arid conditions on exposed rock surfaces (5. pilifera; S. lepidophylla). They have the ability to survive desiccation. Resurrection Plant:
What are the two subgenera of Selaginella?
Hieronymus (1902) divided the genus Selaginella into two sub-genera viz., Homoeophyllum and Heterophyllum on the basis of general structure of the plant body (Table 7.4). The stem is generally erect and radially constructed in the subgenus Homoeophyllum.
How many megaspores are there in a single megasporangium?
sulcata) or two (S. rupestris) megaspores are functional. Sometimes more than one megaspore mother cell in a megasporangium becomes functional resulting into 8, 12 or even more megaspores in a single megasporangium.
What is the stele surrounded by?
Each stele is surrounded by a single-layered pericycle. The stele is set off from the cortex by a few radially elongated endodermal cells designated as trabeculae. They have the characteristic casparian bands on their radial walls. Thus, the central stele is separated from the cortex by large air spaces.
Where are spores produced?
Reproduction by Spores: Numerous haploid spores are produced in the sporangium. The sporangium are located in the sporophylls and the sporophylls are compactly arranged to form cones or strobili. Strobilus: All the species of Selaginella forms strobili or cones.
Where is the ligule located?
7.51). The ligule is found on the ventral (upper) surface of the leaf. A T.S. of a leaf shows two epidermal layers, mesophyll tissue, stele and stomata (Fig. 7.49).
Which type of xylem is found in S. martensii?
In S. martensii, the xylem is monarch and exarch. In S. atroviridis the metaxylem is crescent-shaped and the protoxylem occurs in the form of a few groups on the concave adaxial side. In S. kraussiana, the stele is centroxylic where a single concentric stele with one protoxylem lying in the centre. ADVERTISEMENTS:
Where are the initials of sporangium located?
As the position of sporangium is either cauline or foliar, the initials are either situated on the axis or on the leaf respectively. The development of sporangium and formation of spores (micro-and mega) is similar upto the formation of spore mother cells and is as follows:
Where is the ligule located?
On the adaxial side of the leaf, near the base is present a small membranous out-growth known as ligule. It is embedded at the base of a leaf in a pit like structure known as ligule pit.
How many cells are in the Archegonium?
Each archegonium consists of a short neck of 2 tiers of 4 cells each and a broad venter. The four cells of the upper tier of neck function as cover cells. The neck encloses a single neck canal cell and the venter consists of a ventral canal cell and an egg (Fig. 16 G). There is no definite wall of venter.
What is the name of the plant that curls when dry?
A few xerophytic species of Selaginella e.g., S. lepidophylla and S. pilifera show cestipose habit and are sold as curiosities under the name of resurrection plants. They curl and become ball like when dry and again become green and fresh when moisture is available. About 70 species have been reported from India.
How long is a strobilus?
The length of the strobilus varies from 1/4 inch to 2-3 inches in different species. In some species as for e.g., S cuspidata, S. patula etc. the growth of the stem continues beyond the strobilus and such condition is called selago condition (fertile part is alternated by vegetative parts, Fig. 8 B).
What is a selaginella?
Selaginella is a genus of lycophytes commonly known as spike mosses. The genus includes around 700 species of primitive vascular plants that are found in a wide range of habitats in most regions of the world.
How many species are there in Selaginella?
In total there is around 700 species in the genus Selaginella. They sit within the division of plants known as Lycophyta and the class Isotopsida, which includes the quillworts ( Isoetes ). Selaginella is the sole genus from the family Selaginellaceae and the order Selaginellales.
When did selaginella evolve?
There have been a number of attempts to date the evolution of the family Selaginellaceae and most figures tend to estimate their evolution to around 400 million years ago.
Where do spike mosses live?
They are found from the Arctic to the tropics but are most common in tropical regions.
Do selaginella plants grow in the ground?
Selaginella plants often resemble ferns due to the pattern of their branching and leaves. They can either grow as an upright, branching plant or along the ground with creeping stems. Roots grow directly from the stems of creeping plants.
Background History on the Selaginella
When it comes to the Selaginella kraussiana plant or any other variation in the species, they look diverse in color. The foliage comes over as scale-like leaves with veins running through them. The plant is green but can appear bluish when grown in the shade.
Taking Care of Selaginella Species
Great now that the background on the Selaginella plants covered here are the basics to care for this indoor plant. Make sure to stay longer as we have a detailed one following the shortlist.
Selaginella Varieties
The plants are native to China in different forms with a small mound of foliage. The stems extend up to eight inches in length and can spread out to 12 inches. Many gardeners call it the Stauton’s spike moss.
Selaginella Plant Diseases & Pests
Some anxieties with your leafy friend are overwatering, leading to root rot. Here are some indications to keep an eye on:
General description
Selaginella is the only representative of the Selaginella family of the same name. It is an evergreen spore plant, which is why it is often ranked among ferns.
Species diversity
There are varieties of Selaginella, according to various sources, from three to seven hundred. Among them there are also those that live on trees and are epiphytes. About 25 species are suitable for growing at home; they may differ in care due to their different adaptability to environmental conditions in places of natural growth.
Home care
Almost all selaginella representatives grown at home are warm and moisture-loving, but it is better to clarify the exact characteristics of a particular variety with the seller.
Reproduction of selaginella at home
In the presence of at least one plant, the easiest way to propagate the culture is with the help of cuttings. Usually, they remain in excess after crown molding, if the task is to create a certain compositional solution.
Pests, diseases, growing problems
The crop’s resistance to infections and insect pests can be called high. But with excessively dry air and a lack of watering, the flower can be affected by spider mites, especially if the infection has touched neighboring plants.
Where is Selaginella from?
Native to: Mongolia, China, Taiwan. Common names: Selaginella stauntoniana spring, Staunton’s spike moss. Selaginella stauntoniana is more like its sister plant, Selaginella lepidophylia, because it also needs less water to sprout than its other two siblings.
What is the classification of Selaginella?
Higher classification / Order / Family: Selaginella. Kingdom: Plantae. Class: Lycopodiopsida. The most searched species of the genus Selaginella is Selaginella kraussiana, a vascular plant native to the Azores and parts of mainland Africa.
Why is Selaginella braunii called a fern?
It is called a fern because of the arrow-shaped fronds that grow as large as 10 inches. Selaginella braunii is an interesting plant that has bright green foliage (leaves in summers). In contrast, the leaves turn russet red or light brown during winters, making a perfect ornamental species for your outdoor garden.
How tall are Selaginella plants?
Selaginella stauntoniana has taller leaves that grow 6 to 8 inches long and have green triangular shapes. Selaginella lepidophylia has 3 inches high and 6 inches wide leaves and can survive without water for many days. Selaginella uncinata, or peacock plant, has blue-green colored leaves that grow 2-3 inches long.
Where does Selaginella uncinata grow?
It grows only 2-3 inches from the ground with its oblong-shaped, paper-like, very delicate leaves. It is grown in greenhouses and nurseries as a ground cover as an outdoor plant, just like a dense mat. To sprout, they need: Water.
Why do selaginellas need less water?
For example, in winters, the selaginella water-lover varieties will need even less water due to denseness in the environment. Make sure to follow strict precautions related to watering your plant, such as: Do not leave your plant astray in the rain and let the water drain its soil more than required.
Can selaginella be grown in homes?
We have discussed its famous species you can grow in homes, the general care every selaginella plant will need, and some growth-related conditions. By following them, you will be able to help your plant grow well.
Culture and Lifestyle
Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
Style
The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look.
Home
There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles.
Why are selaginella plants so unique?
Selaginella plants are really only unique to themselves, which is why people have a hard time communicating what they are properly. I guess it’s easier to name (and sell) things that people can identify with. Though they vary considerably in size and shape, they do tend to have some consistent qualities.
What are the characteristics of a selaginella?
Common Selaginella characteristics include: 1 Either a creeping, mat-forming growth (like a moss) or an upright branching growth (like a fern). 2 Small, scaly leaves on branching stems. 3 Spore producing leaves.
What does a Selaginella braunii look like?
Definitely one for larger terrariums. Personally, I think it looks like a miniature Rabbit’s Foot Fern with it’s arrow shaped “fronds.”.
What is a Jori plant?
The ‘Jori’ variety looking festive as ever. One of the true low light terrarium plants, Selaginella martensii tends to grow in a more controlled fashion. Growing upright with broad overlapping leaves, it’s one that resembles a fern much more than a moss.
What makes Selaginella such a great family of terrarium plants?
What makes Selaginella such a great family of terrarium plants is an almost universal love of moisture and humidity. Though the genus is found in both tropical and temperature regions, the vast majority are going to love closed terrarium life.
What is the feathered foliage of Selaginella emmeliana?
Similar to S. martensii, Selaginella emmeliana has a more feather-like shape to it’s growth and exhibits a little more separation between branches. It’s great for areas of a terrarium that are begging for a compact fern, but can’t really fit one.
Can a selaginella survive without water?
If you want a Selaginella that’s definitely able to survive without humidity – this is it. Famously known as “The Resurrection Plant”, this species of S elaginella is a desert dwelling plant that’s able to go without water for incredible amounts of time.

Growth Form
Selaginella is the sole genus of vascular plants in the family Selaginellaceae, the spikemosses or lesser clubmosses.
This family is distinguished from Lycopodiaceae (the clubmosses) by having scale-leaves bearing a ligule and by having spores of two types. They are sometimes included in an informal paraphyletic group called the "fern allies". S…
Distribution of Selaginella
Diversity and Taxonomy
Evolution of Selaginella
Reproduction of Selaginella
Resurrection Plant