Selaginella ovifolia Baker

  • Authority

    Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.

  • Family

    Selaginellaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Selaginella ovifolia Baker

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants laxly imbricate, forming a thin mat. Stems prostrate, filiform, 5-15 cm long, producing short capillary rhizophores at all the nodes. Branches few, distant (1-2 cm apart), altemate, short and simple, or a few lower ones to 4 cm long with 3-6 short, simple, altemate divisions. Lateral leaves of main stem and larger branches spreading, distant, roundish-ovate to broadly elliptic, 1.5-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm broad, acute and mucronulate at the apex, rounded-subcordate at base, lightly costate and with very slightly sclerotic, ciliate margins; tissue delicately membranous, pellucid, bright green above, pale and lustrous beneath. Median leaves ovate, 0.6-1.2 mm long, falcate-acuminate, with cuspidate, upcurved tips. Strobiles 2-3 mm long; sporophylls deltate-ovate, 0.7-1.3 mm long, unequal, acuminate, carinate, ciliolate.

  • Discussion

    Type. Schwanecke s.n., from Puerto Rico (K).

  • Distribution

    General Distribution. Belize, Jamaica, Hispaniola,

    Belize Central America| Jamaica South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Puerto Rico South America|