Selaginella ciliaris

Selaginellaceae

Selaginella ciliaris (Retz.) Spring

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/75983

Main stem shortly creeping, 2–10 cm long, rooting throughout its length; branches erect or ascending, 3–5 cm long. Median leaves ovate to narrowly ovate, c. 0.75–1.5 mm long; base slightly asymmetrical; margins denticulate; apex long, acute, usually recurved. Lateral leaves oblong-ovate to ovate, c. 1.5–2 mm long, asymmetrical; margins ciliate on the acroscopic rounded base, denticulate above; apex broadly acute or obtuse. Strobili c. 5–20 mm long; sporophylls in a median position bearing megasporangia, ±symmetrical, keeled, ovate, acuminate with long-ciliate margins; sporophylls in a lateral position bearing microsporangia, spreading, asymmetrical, oblong-ovate, acuminate; margins denticulate, ciliate at base. Megaspores 216–264 µm diam., finely reticulate, verrucose. Microspores 19–38 µm diam., finely granulose to tuberculose. 

NE QLD, Arnhem Land NT and NW WA. Also in Asia, Malesia and the western Pacific Islands.

Terrestrial in moist situations, often in open Eucalypt dominated forest.