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Selaginella tamariscina
(P.Beauv.) Spring
Japanese Spikemoss
Selaginellaceae
Selaginella tamariscina is a species of lycopod in the family Selaginellaceae. It is native to East Asia, and is cultivated elsewhere, as well as being used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Description
Selaginella tamariscina is an evergreen plant. It forms a central stem that grows to about 5 to 15 cm (occasionally up to 45 cm). From there the main stems branch out into a rosette of smaller branches, which carry the leaves. The main stems are brown to straw colored, and tapering. These branch out into smaller branches that have tiny branchlets; at the tips they are about 1.4 to 3.3 mm wide, including the leaves. The leaves are finely toothed and a dark green. On the branches, they are symmetrical, ovate to triangular, and closely layered together, 0.8 to 2.6 mm long and 0.4 and 1.3 mm wide. Leaves on the top of the stem are tiny, asymmetric, finely toothed, and elliptic, and are about 2 mm long. Leaves on the bottom of the stem are similar but slightly wider and slightly more ovate; they have a spiny tip. Near the tips of the branches, the strobili are small (Wu et al. 2013).
Selaginella tamariscina displays an unusual type of drought tolerance. When in drought, the branches curl up into a dry brownish ball, but then unfurl once they get water. Selaginella is one of the earliest evolutions of this type of drought tolerance (Wang et al. 2010).
Selaginella tamariscina displays an unusual type of drought tolerance. When in drought, the branches curl up into a dry brownish ball, but then unfurl once they get water. Selaginella is one of the earliest evolutions of this type of drought tolerance (Wang et al. 2010).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Selaginella tamariscina is often used in traditional Chinese medicine. The dried plant is used to stop bleeding, among other uses (Zhou et al. 2011). It is sometimes cultivated as a groundcover.
Distribution
This plant is found on limestone rocks at an altitude of about 500 to 1500 m, but occasionally between 100 and 2100 m. It is widespread in East Asia, including Russia, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, China and Taiwan, Philippines, northern Thailand, and India (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
Wang, X., Chen, S., Zhang, H., Shi, L., Cao, F., Guo, L., Xie, Y., Wang, T., Yan, X., and Dai, S. 2010. Desiccation Tolerance Mechanism in Resurrection Fern-Ally Selaginella tamariscina Revealed by Physiological and Proteomic Analysis. Journal of Proteome Research 9: 6561–6577.
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.
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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