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About
Selaginella sp. is a diverse genus of lycophyte, commonly known as spikemosses or lesser clubmosses. The species are notable for their unique ability to survive extreme dehydration by rolling into brown balls and rehydrating, earning them the nickname 'resurrection plants'.
Field notes
Morphology
The plants are creeping or ascending with simple, scale-like microphylls on branching stems. The stems can be aerial and horizontally creeping (as in *Selaginella kraussiana*), sub-erect, or erect. A key feature is the presence of a small scale-like outgrowth called a ligule at the base of the upper surface of each microphyll and sporophyll. They are heterosporous, producing two different sizes of spores: megaspores and microspores.
Distribution & habitat
Selaginella occurs mostly in the tropical regions of the world, with a handful of species also found in the arctic-alpine zones of both hemispheres.
History & etymology
The genus name *Selaginella* was established by Palisot de Beauvois in 1803–1805, initially for *Selaginella selaginoides*. The name was later expanded by Spring to include all selaginelloid species.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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