Selaginella helvetica (L.) Spring

Shalimov, Aleksandr Petrovich, Wu, Yu-Dong & Zhang, Xian-Chun, 2019, A taxonomic revision of the genus Selaginella (Selaginellaceae) from Nepal, PhytoKeys 133, pp. 1-76 : 1

Selaginella helvetica (L.) Spring Figs 4 (1 A–C), 9H , 21

Selaginella helvetica (L.) Spring, Flora 21(1): 149. 1838; Zhang 2004; Zhang et al. 2013; Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2015; Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2017.

≡ Lycopodium helveticum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1104. 1753.

≡ Bernhardia helvetica (L.) Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 23. 1821.

≡ Diplostachyum helveticum (L.) P. Beauv., Prodr. Aethéogam.: 107. 1805.

≡ Heterophyllum helveticum (L.) Hieron. ex Börner, Fl. Deut. Volk 110, f. 29. 1912.

≡ Lycopodioides helvetica (L.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 1: 826. 1891.

≡ Selaginella helvetica (L.) Link, Fil. Spec. 159. 1841, later isonym.

≡ Stachygynandrum helveticum (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. St.-Hil., Expos. Fam. Nat. 1: 39. 1805. Type. (lectotype, designated by Troia and Greuter 2015) Florentiae, et in Taurero Rastadiensi, Herb. Burser XX: 46 (UPS).

Description.

Stems 5 –15(– 25) cm, short-creeping, fertile stems erect. Rhizophores at intervals throughout length of creeping stem and branches, borne on ventral side in axils of branches.Main stems branched throughout, 0.2-0.4 mm in diam. in lower part. Stems stramineous, stem angulate, sulcate, primary leafy branches 2-5 pairs, simple, forked, or once pinnately branched, branchlets sparse, branches arranged on main stem 2-3 cm apart. Axillary leaves ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, 1.4-1.6 × 0.4-0.8 mm, base exauriculate, margin ciliolate. Ventral leaves oblong-ovate or broadly ovate, 1.6-2 × 0.8-1.2 mm, leaves on branches spreading or slightly deflexed, basiscopic margin ciliolate, acroscopic base enlarged, broader, overlapping stem and branches, margin ciliolate, apex acute or aristate, often bent upward. Dorsal leaves symmetrical or not, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1.2-1.6 × 0.5-0.8 mm, base obtuse, margin ciliolate, apex long acuminate or aristate, often reflexed. Fertile branches erect, 3-6 cm. Strobili solitary or forked, terminal, lax or lax in lower partion, and compact in upper part, cylindric, 12-35 × 2-4 mm. Sporophylls unlike sterile leaves or similar, margin ciliolate, apex long acuminate. Megaspores orange or yellowish orange, surface verrucate; microspores orange or orange-red, surface verrucate.

Ecology.

On moss-covered cliffs, in rock crevices, on damp shaded banks in mixed forests, to mossy areas. Alt. 2300-4000 m.

Distribution in Nepal.

W, C.

Nepalese threatened status: NT ( Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2015).

General distribution.

EUROPE, RUSSIA, JAPAN, KOREA, MONGOLIA, CHINA (S Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), INDIA (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal).

Chromosome number.

2n=18 ( Manton 1950; Jermy et al. 1967).

Selected specimens examined:

W Nepal: DOLPA: "between Rohagaon and Lulo Khola, Suli Gad, moist shady bank in mixed forest, growing among moss, alt. 10,000 ft, 15 Sep 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 3403 " (PE; TI, photo; E, photo; US, photo; KYO, photo).

Figures

Figure 4. Morphological diversity of the leaves of Nepalese Sealginella species 1 A-C S. helvetica (Zhang 0638, PE) 2 A-C S. pallidissima (Zhang 2746, PE) 3 A-C S. laxistrobila (Nakaike 1319, PE). A - Axillary leaves, B - Dorsal leaves, C - Ventral leaves. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Diversity strobili of Nepalese Selaginella species A S. indica (Nakaike 1325, PE) B S. bryopteris (Tabata et al. 11989, PE) C S. fulcrata (Nakaike 1923, PE) D S. involvens (Zhang 345, PE) E S. pallida (Nakaike 3740, PE) F S. remotifolia (Nakaike 3522, PE) G S. semicordata (Jenkins s. n., PE) H S. helvetica (Zhang 0638, PE) I S. pallidissima (Zhang 2746, PE). Scale bars: 1 mm (A-G), 2 mm (F, H-I).

Figure 21. Selaginella helvetica (L.) Spring. A (A 1) Habit, upper surface B fragment of the upper part strobilus C fragment of the lower surface of stem D fragment of the upper surface of stem (X. C. Zhang 0638, PE).