Selaginella laxistrobila K.H. Shing

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 laxistrobila K.H. Shing Figs 4 (3 A–C), 10A , 23

Selaginella laxistrobila K.H. Shing, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 31: 569. 1993; Zhang 2004; Zhang et al. 2013. Type. CHINA. Sichuan: Kanding, jieba, Sewuroug, alt. 3350 m., ad clivum australem in sylvis Quercorum, 2 Aug 1981. S.S. Kung 6067 (holotype: PE).

Description.

Stems 1-6 cm, with creeping main stems and few upright stems over a short distance. Rhizophores restricted to lower part of stem. Main stems branched from near base upward, 0.2-0.4 mm in diam. in lower part. Stems stramineous, angulate, sulcate. Axillary leaves elliptic, 1-1.8 × 0.3-0.7 mm, base exauriculate, margin slightly denticulate, apex acute, not aristate. Ventral leaves ovate-triangular, 1.8-2.3 × 0.8-1.2 mm, acroscopic base enlarged, broader, slightly overlapping stem and branches, margin ciliolate, apex acute. Dorsal leaves ovate, 1.2-1.8 × 0.6-0.8 mm, base subcordate or obtuse, margin ciliolate, apex acuminate. Sporophylls dimorphic, similar to sterile leaves in form and arrangement. Strobili solitary or forked, terminal, lax, dorsiventrally complanate, 10-20 × 3-5 mm. Ventral sporophylls ovate, margin shortly ciliolate, apex acuminate; dorsal sporophylls ovate-lanceolate, margin shortly ciliolate, apex acuminate. Megaspores orange or yellowish orange, surface verrucate; microspores orange, surface verrucate.

Ecology.

Terrestrial, evergreen, under shrubs in damp places mixed forests, on rocks, soil banks. Alt. 2650-3200 m.

Distribution in Nepal.

C, E.

Nepalese threatened status: not available data.

General distribution.

CHINA (Sichuan, Yunnan), INDIA.

Chromosome number.

Not available data.

Selected specimens examined:

C Nepal: RASUWA: "between Ghora Tabela and Lama Hotel. 2 Sep 1986, T. Nakaike 1319 " (PE).

E Nepal: SOLUKHUMBU: "between Goem and Junbesi, Solukhumbu, alt. 2650-3200 m, 9 Oct 1988, T. Nakaike 3256 " (PE).

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 10. Diversity strobili of Nepalese Selaginella species A S. laxistrobila (Nakaike 1319, PE) B S. bisulcata (Nakaike 3786, PE) C S. pennata (Nakaike 3507, PE) D S. chrysocaulos (Nakaike 1058, PE) E S. ciliaris (s. n. 1225, PE) F S. monospora (Tabata et al. 11051, PE) G S. trichophylla (Lu & Zhang 27625 - B, PE) H S. repanda (Nakaike 3708, PE) I S. vaginata (Nakaike 1102, PE). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B), 2 mm (C, D, G, H), 1 mm (E, F, I).

Figure 23. Selaginella laxistrobila K. H. Shing A Habit B Upper surface of strobilus C Lower surface of branches D Upper surface of branches (T. Nakaike 1319, PE).