Selaginella subg. Selaginella

Stems radially symmetric, not articulate; creeping stems with closely spaced, dichotomous forks; upright stems unbranched; vessel elements absent. Rhizophores absent. Leaves loosely spirally arranged, monomorphic, lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, thin, soft; margins short-spiny; stomates scattered throughout abaxial surface; axillary leaves absent. Strobili solitary, cylindric. Sporophylls loosely spirally arranged, larger and slightly different shape from vegetative leaves, most sporophylls fertile, megasporophylls and microsporophylls same size, auricles absent.

Distribution

Circumboreal and Pacific Islands (Hawaii).

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Karrfalt, E. E. 1981. The comparative and developmental morphology of the root system of Selaginella selaginoides (L.) Link. Amer. J. Bot. 68: 224--253.

Page, C. N. 1989. Compression and slingshot megaspore ejection in Selaginella selaginoides ---A new phenomenon in pteridophytes. Fern Gaz. 13: 267--275.

Lower Taxa

Selaginella selaginoides