Selaginella apoda
Encyclopedia
Selaginella apoda, commonly known as meadow spike-moss, is a lycophyte native to much of the eastern United States
and parts of northeastern Mexico
. It is found primarily in damp soils in habitats such as swamps, wet fields, open woods and along stream banks. A lowland plant, it has only been recorded at elevations below 100 metres. It is closely related to Selaginella eclipes and S. ludoviciana, both of with which it has been reported to form hybrids. This group is characterised by relatively flat strobili and large megasporophyll
s which occur in the same plane as the lateral leaves.
The plant was originally described, and named Lycopodium apodum by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum
(1753).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and parts of northeastern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is found primarily in damp soils in habitats such as swamps, wet fields, open woods and along stream banks. A lowland plant, it has only been recorded at elevations below 100 metres. It is closely related to Selaginella eclipes and S. ludoviciana, both of with which it has been reported to form hybrids. This group is characterised by relatively flat strobili and large megasporophyll
Sporophyll
A sporophyll is a leaf that bears sporangia. Both microphylls and megaphylls can be sporophylls. In heterosporous plants, sporophylls bear either megasporangia , or microsporangia...
s which occur in the same plane as the lateral leaves.
The plant was originally described, and named Lycopodium apodum by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum
Species Plantarum
Species Plantarum was first published in 1753, as a two-volume work by Carl Linnaeus. Its prime importance is perhaps that it is the primary starting point of plant nomenclature as it exists today. This means that the first names to be considered validly published in botany are those that appear...
(1753).