Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring

Blue spikemoss (en)

Species

Pteridophytes > Lycopodiales > Selaginellaceae > Selaginella

Characteristics

Plants terrestrial, evergreen; main stem scandent from erect base, 50-100 cm or more. Rhizophores restricted to lower part of stem or at intervals throughout length of main stem, borne on ventral side in axils of branches. Main stems branched from near base upward, pinnately branched, stramineous, 1-1.5 mm in diam. in lower part, terete and angulate, sulcate, glabrous, apex of main stems flagelliform, branches many; primary leafy branches 5-8 pairs, twice pinnately branched, secondary branches once or twice forked, branchlets dense, adjacent primary branches on main stem 5-8 cm apart, ultimate branches 3.8-6 mm wide including leaves. Leaves often iridescent, distinctly white-margined, margin entire. Axillary leaves on main stems obviously larger than those on branches, reniform, ca. 3 × 4 mm, base slightly cordate; axillary leaves on branches symmetrical, broadly elliptic or orbicular, 2.2-2.8 × 0.8-2.2 mm, base subcordate, margin entire. Dorsal leaves asymmetrical, those on main stems obviously larger than those on branches; dorsal leaves on branches approximate to imbricate, parallel to axis or overlapping at leaf apex and often reflexed, ovate, 1-2.4 × 0.6-1 mm, not carinate, base obtuse, margin entire, apex long acuminate. Ventral leaves asymmetrical, those on main stem obviously larger than those on branches; ventral leaves on branches contiguous, spreading, oblong, 2.2-3.2 × 1-1.6 mm, margin entire, apex acute or mucronate; basiscopic base rounded; acroscopic base not enlarged. Strobili solitary, terminal, compact, tetragonal, 5-25 × 2.5-4 mm; sporophylls uniform, white-margined, ovate-triangular, carinate, margin entire, apex acuminate; megasporophylls in basal portion on lower side of strobilus or megasporophylls in middle or upper portion on lower side; microsporangia transversely elliptic, rather thin, cells regular; microspores pale yellow, megaspores gray-white or dark brown.
More
Plants terrestrial, forming diffuse mats. Stems long-creeping, branched, branches 3-forked, flat, not articulate, glabrous. Rhizophores axillary, mostly at stem base or apex, 0.3--0.4 mm diam. Leaves delicate, papery. Lateral leaves distant, iridescent, green to blue-green, ovate-oblong, 3--4.2 X 1.5--2.5 mm; basiscopic base with small auricle, acroscopic base overlapping stem; margins conspicuously transparent, entire; apex acute to obtuse. Median leaves ovate-lanceolate, 2.2--3.5 X 1.2--1.8 mm; base with outer auricle; margins transparent, entire; apex acuminate. Strobili solitary, 0.5--1.5 cm; sporophylls monomorphic, lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, strongly tapering toward apex, keeled, keel not dentate, base glabrous, margins transparent, entire, apex long-acuminate. 2 n = 18.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support -
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality -
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 1.0
Mature height (meter) 1.5
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color -
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light 4-6
Soil humidity 2-7
Soil texture -
Soil acidity 2-6
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-12

Usage

Uses environmental use medicinal
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Can be grown by divisions.
Mode divisions
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Selaginella uncinata unspecified picture

Distribution

Selaginella uncinata world distribution map, present in China, India, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Province of China, United States of America, and Viet Nam

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60467456-2
WFO ID wfo-0001109671
COL ID 4WCM7
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Lycopodium uncinatum Lycopodioides uncinatum Selaginella eurystachya Selaginella uncinata