Selaginella umbrosa

Selaginellaceae

Selaginella umbrosa Lem. ex Hieron.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/116923

Stems stiffly erect from a creeping base, red, simple in the lower part, branching above in the one plane, the branched portion broadly triangular in outline, commonly 15–22 cm long and as wide or a little wider. Leaves on the main stem to a little below the branches, of one type, sessile, appressed, 2–3 mm long, ovate in outline, keeled, the apex acuminate, acute, the base heart-shaped, fringed with hairs, the largest at the base, the lateral margins minutely toothed. Sterile leaves on the main rachis and branches crowded, of two types: median leaves appressed and direct along the axes, ca. 0.5–1 mm long on the smaller branches, to ca. 2 mm long on the primary branches, becoming progressively smaller towards the tips of the branches, ovate-sickle-shaped in outline, the apex markedly acuminate, narrow, but the tip rounded, the margin minutely toothed; lateral leaves widely spreading, overlapping, ca. 2–2.5 mm long on the smaller branches, to ca. 3 mm long on the primary branches, ovate-sickle-shaped in outline, sessile, the base on the side nearest the base of the stem truncate, the upper base rounded and bearing long hairs becoming progressively shorter towards the apex, the rest of the margin entire, the apex acute. Fertile spikes terminal on the branches, more or less square in cross-section, ca. 1–1.5 mm wide and several mm long; fertile leaves all of one type, overlapping, slightly spreading, ca. 1.5 mm long, ovate in outline, slightly acuminate, acute, keeled, very unequal-sided, the margin toothed.

Sparingly naturalised in the Cairns to Daintree region of NE QLD.

Terrestrial in mesic forest.