The Jepson Herbarium
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± 700 species: worldwide, generally tropics, warm temperate. (Latin: small Selago, ancient name for some Lycopodium) Some cultivated as groundcover, curiosity: Selaginella kraussiana (Kunze) A. Braun; Selaginella lepidophylla (Hook. & Grev.) Spring, resurrection plant. Hand lens, generally at ± 20×, required for leaves (shape, margin, awn at tip), cones. Selaginella kraussiana may be naturalized in CA, differs from native CA taxa in leaves lacking abaxial groove.
Unabridged note: All native CA taxa in subgenus Tetragonostachys.

Key to Selaginella

1. Lf tip awn 0 or inconspicuous

2. Lvs of main stem not pointed up, under-leaves ± like over-leaves; leaves near tip of sterile shoots generally < 0.4 mm wide; plant pale green aging tan ..... S. cinerascens

2' Lvs of main stem with tips pointed up, under-leaves longer, more curved around stem than over-leaves; leaves near tip of sterile shoots often > 0.4 mm wide; plant green aging orange-brown ..... S. eremophila

1' Lf tip awn >> leaf margin teeth

3. Plant in festoons, curly when dry; on, under trees; humid NCo, KR, NCoRO ..... S. oregana

3' Plant erect, creeping, or mat-forming, not curly when dry; not on, under trees; humid NCo, KR, NCoRO or not

4. Plant with ± erect rootless stems arising from ground; leaf base hairs on margins, abaxial surface ..... S. bigelovii

4' Plant without ± erect rootless stems arising from ground; leaf base hairs generally on margins only (also on surfaces in Selaginella asprella)

5. For most sterile leaves of main stem, distance from end of abaxial groove to base of awn generally > 1/3 maximum leaf width; awns generally entire; 1350–4100 m ..... S. watsonii

5' For most sterile leaves of main stem, distance from end of abaxial groove to base of awn < 1/3 maximum leaf width; awns toothed; < 2700 m

6. Plant with some leaves red, pink-red, or red-streaked; plant not dense cushions, at margins loosely spreading, branching ± pinnate; s NCoRI, CaR, SN, ScV (Sutter Buttes), n SCoR; 250–1700 m ..... S. hansenii

6' Plant without any leaves red, pink-red, or red-streaked; plants dense cushions or not, at margins not loosely spreading, branching not pinnate; NW, n SNF (Butte Co.), n&c SNH, s SN, n SnFrB (Marin Co.), TR, PR, DMtns; 600–2700 m

7. Awn length often > leaf width, margins with cilia >> 3 × longer than wide; leaf hairs on surface at base on some leaves ..... S. asprella

7' Awn length generally < leaf width, margins with teeth generally < 3 × longer than wide; leaf hairs on margins only

8. Branches not elongate, not spreading, 2° branches rarely above substrate; stem fragile when dry; DMtns ..... S. leucobryoides

8' Branches ± elongate, often spreading, 2° branches frequently above substrate; stem ± not fragile when dry; n CA

9. Tip of leaf near sterile stem tip with end of abaxial groove not surrounded by thickening; leaves of main stem generally swept upward, under-leaves curved, ± > over-leaves, decurrent; sterile shoot internodes generally < 7 mm, tip with distal-most awns more exserted than those just below ..... S. scopulorum

9' Tip of leaf near sterile stem tip with end of abaxial groove surrounded by thickening; leaves of main stem not swept upward, ± alike, under-leaves rarely unlike over-leaves, not decurrent; sterile shoot internodes often > 7 mm, tip with distal-most awns not more exserted than those just below ..... S. wallacei

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].
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