| Synonyms: |
Selaginella caffrorum (Milde) Hieron. Selaginella capensis Hieron. Selaginella rupestris (L.) Spring var. incurva A.Braun ex Kuhn |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Plants moss-like, widely creeping and branched, forming extensive mats. Stems c. 0.5 mm in diameter, covered with small, flattened leaves; leaves on branches dense and overlapping. Leaves monomorphic, small, up to 3 × 0.4 mm, narrowly lanceolate in outline, apex tapering with a very short, translucent, bristle point, margin entire or sparsely ciliate, midrib prominently grooved. Plants bright olive green when wet or alive, pale coppery brown when dry or dead. Sporophylls arranged in 4 ranks, 2 mm long, ovate, acuminate. |
| Type location: |
South Africa |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | afrorum: African. |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Worldwide distribution: | South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe (single collection) into tropical and East Africa, and Sudan. |
| Botanical divisions: | |
| Growth form(s): | Lithophyte, terrestrial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Bizzarri, M.P. (1985). Selaginellaceae Flore d' Afrique Centrale National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 8 - 9. as var. caffrorum Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 25. (Includes a picture). Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 84 - 85. (Includes a picture). Fischer E. & Lobin W. (2024). Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. Willdenowia 53(3) Page 154. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 144. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 27. |