Selaginella corrugis Mickel & Beitel

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Selaginellaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Selaginella corrugis Mickel & Beitel

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - Foliis parvulis utraque facie granulosis margine ciliato-denticulatis foliisque medianis cuspidatis praestans. (L., corrugis, wrinkled, referring to the surface of the leaves.)

    Species Description - Stems prostrate, rooting throughout, ca. 0.3 mm diam., not articulate, not flagelliform, not stoloniferous, stramineous to pale green; rhizophores filiform, ca. 0.1 mm diam.; anisophyllous throughout, leaves bumpy-surfaced, silvery beneath, with prominent midrib; lateral leaves broadly elliptical, obtuse, ca. 1 mm long, base rounded, held at 45° angle, margin denticulate with remote teeth, attached at posterior angle, bumpy on upper surface; median leaves ovate, short-cuspidate with a narrow white border, midrib prominent and raised, base exauriculate, margin ciliate-denticulate with remote teeth; axillary leaves elliptical, obtuse, exauriculate, margin ciliate-denticulate; strobili 1 mm wide, 3-7 mm long; sporophylls monomorphic and of two colors (upper [median] two ranks green, lower [lateral] two ranks colorless), ascending, symmetric, with ciliate-denticulate margins; megasporangia several at base of strobilus; megaspores grayish-white, 210-260 µm diam., low reticulate; microspores dull orange, with thin capitate papillae.

  • Discussion

    Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Dist. Villa Alta, valley of the Yelagago River, about 20 mi NE of Villa Alta, rainforest, 3800' [1160 m], on rock cliff, 27 Jul 1962, Mickel 1043 (NY!; isotypes to be distributed). Selaginella corrugis is distinct in its very small leaves with bumpy leaf surfaces, ciliate-denticulate margins, and cuspidate median leaves. Selaginella tarapotensis has larger leaves with long aristae, white margins, and has denticulate margins mostly at base. Selaginella subrugosa has intermediate-sized leaves with short aristae and white-bordered margins, and minutely denticulate at base and near tip. The complex needs further study.

  • Distribution

    On rock cliff in wet montane forest; Villa Alta; 1150-1300 m. Known only from the type collection.

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