Selaginella myosurus (Sw.) Alston
Synonyms |
Lycopodium myosurus Sw. |
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Common name |
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Description |
Rhizophores 30 cm long by 0.75 mm in diameter, streaked or buff when dry, glabrous, abruptly deflected; ventral rhizophores with a short papilla. Stems not articulated, climbing; lateral branches c. 12 x 4 cm, pinnate, with lateral leaves spaced on the main axis and overlapping on the ultimate branches; ultimate ramifications about 2 x 7 cm (leaves included). Leaves homomorphic on main stem, heteromorphic elsewhere. Main stem leaves c. 3 mm long, spaced 1 cm apart, ovate, apex tapering, base subulate, margin subentire, with two broad acute auricles at base; lateral leaves of the main branches unequal, the upper side semi-lanceolate, base rounded. Ultimate branches lateral leaves 3 x 1 cm, slightly falciform, apex mucronate-acruminate, unequal, margins with 1-3 rows of elongated cells, midrib raised on the upper side, not quite reaching the top; axillary leaves ovate, acute, denticulate, with or without short auricles; median leaves ovate-lanceolate, with a blade about 1 mm long, denticulate, acuminate, long awned, the awn about half the length of the blade. Strobili solitary at the end of the final branches, usually about 1 cm long by 2 mm in diameter; sporophylls homomorphic (except those with megasporangia, which are slightly larger), ovate-deltoid, long-acuminate-awned, serrulate, articulated. |
Notes | |
Derivation | |
Habitat | On the edge of shrubby forest. |
Distribution worldwide | See African distribution. |
Distribution in Africa |
Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. |
Growth form |
Climbing, terrestrial. |
Literature |
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