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Selaginella involvens
(Sw.) Spring
(no common name)
Selaginellaceae
Selaginella involvens is a species of lycopod in the family Selaginellaceae. It is native to South Asia to East Asia, and is used in traditional medicine.
Description
Selaginella involvens is a typically evergreen, erect plant that spreads via underground rhizomes and stolons. It is typically about 15 to 35 cm tall. Growing off the stolons are stems that branch up to about three times into flattened, triangular sprays. The main stems are straw-colored, 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter in the lower half, not grooved or hairy; there are 7 to 12 primary pinnate branches, and from those, 1 to 2 secondary branches, and from those, 1 to 2 pinnate branches. Leaves of Selaginella involvens are finely toothed (denticulate) arranged in four ranks: two of the ranks are on the upper side of the branch, called dorsal or medial leaves, and two of the ranks are on the lower side of the branch, called ventral or lateral leaves. There are also axillary leaves that are 1.1 to 1.6 cm long and 0.4 to 1.1 mm wide, ovate to triangular, found at the branching points of stems. Dorsal leaves are ovate-triangular or ovate-elliptic, up to 1.2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, somewhat keeled, with a long-pointed tip and wedge-shaped tip. Ventral leaves are larger, 1.4 to 2.4 mm long and 0.4 to 1.4 mm wide, overlapping the stem and branches on one side and often also each other. The reproductive structures, called strobili, are solitary on the ends of branches, 4-angled, and 5 to 15 mm long and 1 to 1.4 mm wide; sporophylls lack white margins (Wu et al. 2013)
Selaginella involvens is similar to Selaginella moellendorffii. The two can be distinguished by their dorsal leaves, which are acuminate and lack a white margin in Selaginella involvens, but aristate with a white margin in S. moellendorffii. Additionally, the basal stem is round in this species, but angular in S. moellendorffii. Both species are able to curl inward to conserve water, a feature more commonly known in other species (Li and Tan 2005).
Selaginella involvens is similar to Selaginella moellendorffii. The two can be distinguished by their dorsal leaves, which are acuminate and lack a white margin in Selaginella involvens, but aristate with a white margin in S. moellendorffii. Additionally, the basal stem is round in this species, but angular in S. moellendorffii. Both species are able to curl inward to conserve water, a feature more commonly known in other species (Li and Tan 2005).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Selaginella involvens is used in traditional Chinese medicine (Li and Tan 2005). The whole plant is used to stop bleeding or coughs, among other uses (Zhou et al. 2011). In India, it has been traditionally used as an ingredient in anti-aging tonics (Setyawan 2009).
Distribution
Selaginella involvens typically grows on rocks or tree trunks in the shade, in forests, at altitudes between 200 to 3100 m. It is a widespread species, found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
Li, Z.-J., and Tan, B. C. 2005. A review of the species diversity of Selaginella in Fujian Province of China. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica, 43(1): 50–59.
Setyawan, A. D. 2009. Traditionally utilization of Selaginella; field research and literature review. Nusantara Bioscience, 1: 146–158.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Zhou, J., Xie, G., and Yan, X. 2011. Encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicines - Molecular structures, pharmacological activities, natural sources and applications. Vol. 5, Isolated compounds T-Z. Berlin: Springer.
Setyawan, A. D. 2009. Traditionally utilization of Selaginella; field research and literature review. Nusantara Bioscience, 1: 146–158.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Zhou, J., Xie, G., and Yan, X. 2011. Encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicines - Molecular structures, pharmacological activities, natural sources and applications. Vol. 5, Isolated compounds T-Z. Berlin: Springer.
Description
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