TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Plants on soil, rocks, or other plants, cespitose, mat-like (± flat), or cushion-like (rounded)
Stems pendent to erect, short to widely spreading, rooting at base or in branch fork; branches intricately intertwined or not
Leaves many, simple, overlapping, appressed, small, ± scale-like, 1-veined, smooth to grooved on back, sessile to decurrent, generally 4-ranked; fertile leaves at same node of prostrate stems equal or not, if unequal, leaves below stem generally appressed, leaves above stem ascending to spreading
Cones generally terminal; leaves like those on sterile stems or not, generally strongly overlapping, triangular in X -section
Sporangia 1 per leaf axil, spheric to reniform; lower generally with (13)4 large, 3-ridged, yellow to orange spores; upper generally with many, small, generally pale-colored spores.
The only genus
Species in genus: ± 700 species: worldwide, generally tropical and warm temp
Etymology: (Latin: small Selago , ancient name for some Lycopodium )
. Some cultivated as groundcover and curiosity (S. kraussiana, S. lepidophylla , resurrection plant). Hand lens required to observe leaf shape, margin, bristle at tip, cones
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.
Native |
Plant flat to mat- to cushion-like, open or dense
Stems strongly intertwined; main stems prostrate to decumbent, 26 cm, fragile when dry; lateral branches decumbent to ascending, 12(4) cm
Leaves sessile; upper and lower of main stems equal, 0.54 mm, lanceolate to narrowly so, bristle-tipped, bristle < 1.5 mm, soft, together forming conspicuous tufts at stem tip, marginal hairs sparse, spreading
Cone < 2 cm; leaves lanceolate to ovate; large spores yellow
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Dry sites, rocks, rocky soils, crevices, coniferous forest
Elevation: 16002700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: Baja California