Selaginella cordifolia (Desv. ex Poir.) Spring

  • 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 cordifolia (Desv. ex Poir.) Spring

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants procumbent or laxly pendent, usually producing rhizophores only at base and apex; stems 12-30 cm long, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, not flexuous, producing numerous short to somewhat elongate lateral branches, these in tum alternately short-branched, the frond as a whole being irregularly elongate-triangular; lateral branches pinnate or 2-pinnate, the ultimate divisions few, 2-6 mm long; plane of upper stem and main branches 4-6 mm broad (including leaves), of the minor divisions 2-3 mm. Lateral leaves of stem and main branches 2.5-4 mm long, 1.5-2 mm broad, abruptly acute and mucronulate at apex, narrowly sclerotic, broadly cordate at base but not auriculate, costate abaxially, the margin ciliate on the broadly rounded acroscopic base, chiefly minutely denticulate-ciliolate elsewhere. Lateral leaves of minor divisions similar but smaller. Leaf-tissue membrano-herbaceous, pellucid, noticeably paler beneath. Median leaves subimbricate, broadly ovate and abruptly acuminate-cuspidate, 1.5-2 mm long, the margins sclerotic and rigidly ciliate throughout. Strobiles few, 2-4 mm long; sporophylls laxly oblique, narrowlydeltate-ovate, acuminate, ca. 1.5 mm long, acutely carinate, with margins narrowly sclerotic and obliquely ciliolate.

  • Discussion

    Basionym. Lycopodium cordifolium Desvaux ex Poiret in Lamarck, Encycl. Meth. Bot. Suppl. 3: 548. 1814.

    Lectotype. Riedle s.n., from Puerto Rico {Herb. Jussieu 685-B, P, photo US).

    Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico; reported from Brazil. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Recorded from Aguas Buenas, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Cayey, Comerio, Corozal, Naguabo, Rio Grande, Salinas, and Yabucoa. Habitat. On moist rocky banks, wet boulders in or near streams or beside waterfalls, or sometimes on wet dripping masonry walls, at low to middle elevations (15-500 m), frequent.

  • Distribution

    Cuba South America| West Indies| Puerto Rico South America| Brazil South America| Aguas Buenas Puerto Rico South America| Arecibo Puerto Rico South America| Barranquitas Puerto Rico South America| Cayey Puerto Rico South America| Comerío Puerto Rico South America| Corozal Belize Central America| Naguabo Puerto Rico South America| Río Grande Puerto Rico South America| Salinas Puerto Rico South America| Yabucoa Puerto Rico South America|