Selaginella gigantea (family Selaginellaceae) is a spikemoss endemic to the montane rainforests of Venezuela, at an altitude of around 750 metres (2,460 ft). It is noteworthy in being the only Selaginella species which is a true shrub, being up to 6.5 feet (2.0 m) in height and about half as wide. The leaves do not exceed 0.2 inches (0.51 cm) in length by 118 inch (1.4 mm) in width. Strobili are up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long by up to 112 inch (2.1 mm) in width.[1]

Selaginella gigantea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Selaginellales
Family: Selaginellaceae
Genus: Selaginella
Species:
S. gigantea
Binomial name
Selaginella gigantea
Steyerm. & A.R.Sm.

References edit

  1. ^ Steyermark, Julian A.; Smith, A.R. (1986). "Notes - A Remarkable new Selaginella from Venezuela". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 73 (1): 209–215. doi:10.2307/2399150. JSTOR 2399150. Retrieved 23 February 2022.