The Spikemoss reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Spikemoss

Spikemoss
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Plantae Division: Lycopodiophyta Class: Selaginellopsida Order: Selaginellales Family: Selaginellaceae Genus: Selaginella
Species
(see main page)

Spikemoss refers to any plant of the genus Selaginella, in the family Selaginellaceae, in the order Selaginellales, in the class Selaginellopsida, in the division Lycopodiophyta. Many workers still place the Selaginellales in the class Lycopsida (modern nomenclature: Lycopodiopsida). This group of plants are considered to be part of the fern allies.

The spikemosses are creeping or ascendant plants with simple, scale-like leaves on branching stems from which roots also arise. The plants are heterosporous.

There are about 700 species of Selaginella, showing a wide range of characters; the genus is overdue for a revision which might include subdivision into several genera. Better-known spikemosses include:

• Selaginella selaginoides -- Lesser clubmoss (north temperate Europe, Asia & North America)
• Selaginella apoda -- Meadow spikemoss (eastern North America)
• Selaginella eclipes -- Hidden spikemoss (eastern North America)
• Selaginella rupestris -- Rock spikemoss (eastern North America)
• Selaginella kraussiana -- Krauss's spikemoss (Africa, Azores)

Many species of Selaginella are desert plants known as "resurrection plants", because they curl up in a tight, brown or reddish ball during dry times, and uncurl and turn green in the presence of moisture. Other species are tropical forest plants that appear at first glance to be ferns.

This is the "Spikemoss" reference article from the English Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. See also our Disclaimer.