Selaginella silvestris Aspl.

  • 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 silvestris Aspl.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Stems suberect to trailing and rooting throughout, ca. 0.8-1.5 mm diam., articulate, not flagelliform, not stoloniferous, stramineous; rhizophores ca. 0.5 mm diam.; anisophyllous throughout; lateral leaves obliquely oblong, to 3.5 mm long, slightly tapering to obtuse apex, base truncate, attached at posterior angle, held at right angles to stem, margin denticulate at base, otherwise entire, somewhat lustrous, basiscopic margin recurved; median leaves ovate-lanceolate, not strongly oblique, long-acuminate to alístate, base with subequal auricles, margin entire at base, denticulate at tip; axillary leaves ob-ovate-lanceolate, exauriculate, margin denticulate at base and tip; strobili with megasporophylls as large as lateral leaves, microsporophylls as small as median leaves, midribs not denticulate (except occasionally near tip), megasporangium single, basal; megaspores cream to beige, with reticulate surface; microspores beige to pale orange, spinulose.

  • Discussion

    Type. Bolivia. Sur Yungas: Ad El Chaco, Asplund 1140 (S). The denticulate lateral and axillary leaves, both lacking auricles, and denticulate median leaves with small, subequal auricles will distinguish Selaginella silvestris from the two other articulate species with non-peltate median leaves: S. galeottii, which has ciliate lateral and axillary leaves, both with auricles, and ciliate median leaves with one auricle larger than the other; and S. tarda, which has median leaves with one large auricle. The other articulate species in Oaxaca, S. schizobasis, S. eurynota and S. sertata, have peltate median leaves. Most specimens in Mexico (Hgo, Ver, Pue, Oax (Ixtlán & Mixe), Chis) come from higher elevations than any other articulate species (1700-2800 m). Two collections from Oaxaca (Juchitán, 100 m, Mickel 6828; Tuxtepec, 20 m, Martínez-C. 332) come from low elevation and appear similar to S. silvestris in most respects. However, they do have peculiar branches, especially near the plant base, which are lacking lateral leaves, thus appearing flagelliform, yet the median leaves are intact. It is not evident whether this is a genetic feature or the action of a discriminating herbivore. The few specimens from low elevation (30-1300 m) in Mexico (Mex, Ver, Chis) show this same feature, whereas the high elevation specimens do not.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in wet montane forests and cloud forests on Atlantic slope; Ixtlán, Juchitán, Mixe, Tuxtepec; (20-100 m) 1700-2700 m. Mexico (Col, Mex, Hgo, Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis); Guat to Pan; Ven & Col, to Bol.

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