Selaginella underwoodii Hieron.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Selaginellaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Selaginella underwoodii Hieron.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems usually long-creeping, sometimes short-creeping or pendent, forming loose festoon-like mats or rarely compact mats, radially symmetrical, dry stems not fragile, branching anisotomously, lateral branches well spaced, spreading, not ascending, 1–2 times forked; rhizophores borne throughout stem length, 0.2–0.3 mm diam.; leaves of one kind (isophyllous) throughout stem length, loosely appressed, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2–3.4 x 0.4–0.7 mm, bases mostly decurrent and cuneate, rarely adnate and rounded (on young branches), pubescent or glabrous, apices carinate, slightly attenuate, short- to long-aristate, aristae hyaline-greenish to greenish yellow or rarely white, 0.2–1 mm, sometimes breaking off, margins entire to denticulate or very short-ciliate, cilia hyaline, scattered; strobili sometimes paired, quadrangular, 0.5–3.5 cm long; sporophylls monomorphic; megasporangia basal, strobili mostly microsporangiate; megaspores yellow, reticulate, 350–475 µm diam.; microspores orange, 35–45 µm diam.

  • Discussion

    Selaginella rupestris (L.) Spring var. fendleri Underw., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 127. 1898. Selaginella fendleri (Underw.) Hieron., Hedwigia 39: 303. 1900, hom. illeg., non Baker, 1883. Bryodesma underwoodii (Hieron.) Soja´k,Preslia 64: 155. 1992. Lectotype (chosen by Weatherby, 1944: 412). U.S.A. New Mexico: Fendler 1024 (NY!; isolectotype NY!).

    Selaginella underwoodii Hieron.var. dolichotricha Weath., J. Arnold Arbor. 25: 412. 1944. Type. U.S.A. New Mexico: Mogollon creek, Metcalfe 276 (GH; isotype NY!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Ags (Siqueiros 4354, HUAA, cited by Siqueiros-Delgado & Gonza´lez-Adame, 2004, but not verified).

    Selaginella underwoodii is a rather distinct species; however, it shows some variation in the number and length of the marginal cilia (from none to many), leaf base pubescence, and arista length.

  • Distribution

    Epipetric on moist or shaded cliffs, rocky slopes, rock crevices, granitic outcrops, hanging over granite cliffs, sandstone ledges or limestone; 1400–3200 m. USA; Mexico.

    Mexico North America| United States of America North America|