Selaginella wrightii 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 wrightii Hieron.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems prostrate, forming loose to dense mats, dorsiventral, branch tips curving upward; rhizophores borne throughout stem length, 0.3–0.4 mm diam.; leaves of one kind (isophyllous) throughout stem length; leaves crowded, slightly dimorphic, margins ciliate, cilia hyaline, apices aristate, aristae yellowish, 0.2–0.5 mm, often breaking off, usually more persistent on underside leaves; upperside leaves linear-lanceolate, 3.3–3.9 x 0.6– 0.8 mm, bases abruptly adnate, pubescent; underside leaves narrowly linear-lanceolate to falcate on marginal rows, 3.5–4.5(–5) x 0.6–0.7 mm, bases abruptly adnate or slightly decurrent, usually pubescent, sometimes glabrous; strobili quadrangular, (0.7– )1.5–2 (–2.6) cm long; sporophylls monomorphic; megasporangia few, basal, strobili nearly entirely microsporangiate; megaspores pale to bright orange, rugose, 270–380 µm diam.; microspores bright orange, 34–56 µm diam.

  • Discussion

    Selaginella rupestris (L.) Spring f. wrightii (Hieron.) Clute, Fern Bull. 16: 52. 1908. Bryodesma wrightii (Hieron.) Soja´k, Preslia 54: 155. 1992. Type. U.S.A. Texas: Uvalde Co., Turkey Creek, near Cline, Wright 828 (B; isotypes GH!, NY!, US!).

    Unverified, Doubtful, or Mistaken Reports. Hgo (Kenoyer 1053, GH, cited by R. Tryon, 1955, but not verified). SLP (Lundell 96, US, cited by R. Tryon, 1955, but not verified).

    Selaginella wrightii seems to be allied to the Californian S. hansenii Hieron., from which it can be distinguished by long (vs. short) strobili, strongly tapering, lanceolate (vs. shortattenuate, ovate-deltate) sporophylls, and green (vs. usually redspotted or wholly red) leaves. Some characters, such as the dorsiventral habit, the dimorphism of the leaves, and the upturned branch tips, suggest a closer alliance of these two species to series Eremophilae than to series Sartorii as suggested by R. Tryon (1955).

  • Distribution

    Epipetric on exposed or shaded rocks, limestone cliffs; 375-2000 m. USA; Mexico.

    Mexico North America|