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Selaginella kraussiana
(Kunze) A.Braun
Krauss' Spikemoss
Selaginellaceae
Selaginella kraussiana is a species of lycopod in the family Selaginellaceae. It is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Azores, and is widely cultivated and escaped elsewhere.
Description
Selaginella kraussiana is a creeping evergreen or seasonally green plant. It grows to 15 to 45 cm or more. The plant has rhizophores (shoots that grow downward into roots) all throughout the length of the stems and branches. From there the main stems branch out irregularly and pinnately, and are 0.6 to 1.2 mm in diameter and pale, somewhat angled, grooved, and hairless. These branch out into around 10 to 20 pairs of smaller branches that have a few tiny branchlets; at the tips they are about 3 to 6 mm wide, including the leaves. The leaves are finely toothed and have different forms depending on their locations. On the main stems and branches, they are oblong to elliptic, with an obtuse, around 2.3 to 3.8 mm long and 1 to 2 mm on branches. Dorsal leaves, which are on top of the branches, are asymmetrical. They are broadly elliptic to lanceolate, 2.1 to 2.8 mm long and 0.6 to 1 mm wide, with an oblique base. Ventral leaves, on the sides of branches, are also asymmetrical; they are ovate to elliptic, 2.4 to 4 mm long and 1.2 to 1.8 mm wide, spreading, and pointed. Some branches are erect and have single strobili on the ends. They are four-sided and small, 3 to 4 mm long and about 1 mm wide. Sporophylls, which bear the sporangia, are ovate to lanceolate, finely toothed, and pointed (Wu et al. 2013)
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Selaginella kraussiana is often used as a terrarium plant indoors, or a groundcover outdoors, where it is hardy to USDA zone 6. It prefers high moisture, but not so much that it rots. It also prefers partial to full shade (Elzer-Peters 2014).
Distribution
Selaginella kraussiana is found in shady areas, from open grassland to closed forests, at an altitude of 1200 to 2500 m. It is native to Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Azores (Schelpe 1970). Elsewhere, it is common and has escaped in many countries (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
Elzer-Peters, K. 2014. Miniature gardens: design and create miniature fairy gardens, dish gardens, terrariums and more--indoors and out. Minneapolis: Cool Springs Press.
Schelpe, E. A. C. L. E. 1970. Flora Zambesiaca Pteridophyta. London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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.
Schelpe, E. A. C. L. E. 1970. Flora Zambesiaca Pteridophyta. London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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.
Description
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