Selaginella lindenii Spring

  • 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 lindenii Spring

  • Description

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    Species Description - Stems creeping, stramineous, 16.5 cm long, 0.3–0.4 mm diam., not articulate, not flagelliform, not stoloniferous, 2–3 times branched; rhizophores throughout, filiform, 0.1–0.2 mm diam.; leaves of two kinds (anisophyllous) throughout stem length; lateral leaves ovate-oblong, 1.5–2.2 x 0.7–1.2 mm, bases subcordate, strongly overlapping stems acroscopically, margins whitish to hyaline acroscopically, short- to long-ciliate proximally, denticulate to entire distally, apices obtuse, upper surfaces hispid throughout, without idioblasts, lower surfaces glabrous, striate, with or without obscure idioblasts; median leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, 0.7–1.2 x 0.4–0.7 mm, bases with small outer auricle, margins hyaline (especially the outer margins), longciliate, apices acute to short-acuminate, both surfaces glabrous, without idioblasts; axillary leaves similar to lateral leaves or more exauriculate, lanceolate; strobili quadrangular, 1–2.5 mm long; sporophylls monomorphic; megasporangia basal in ventral rows; microsporangia in dorsal rows and distal in ventral rows; spores immature.

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Alston, 1955: 240). Mexico. Tabasco: Teapa, Oct, Linden s.n. (P!; isolectotypes BM!, LG!).

    In Mexico this species has been misinterpreted by Alston (1955), Smith (1981), Mickel and Beitel (1988), and Fraile (in Davidse et al., 1995), who all considered S. lindenii to include specimens here newly named S. hirtifolia. Selaginella lindenii can be easily distinguished from the latter by the base of the median leaves with (vs. without) outer auricles, lateral leaves with obtuse (vs. acute) apices, and leaves dark to bluish green (vs. light to yellow-green) above. Because of similarities in general habit and leaf shape, S. lindenii may be confused with S. arsiclada, which lacks an outer auricle on the median leaves and hairs on the upper surface of the lateral leaves. Selaginella lindenii seems to be more closely related to the South American species S. jungermannioides (Gaudich.) Spring and relatives (S. homaliae A. Braun, S. schultesii Alston ex Crabbe & Jermy, S. applanata A. Braun, and S. truncata H. Karst. ex A. Braun). It differs from them by the lateral leaves being hispid above.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial on shaded, wet rocks; elevation unknown, undoubtedly low. Mexico. Known only from the type collection.

    Mexico North America|