Selaginella carioi Hieron.
Descripción
Stems creeping, stramineous, 10 cm long, 0.2–0.4 mm diam., not articulate, not flagelliform, not stoloniferous, 2–3 times branched; rhizophores borne throughout stem length, filiform, 0.1–0.2 mm diam.; leaves of two kinds (anisophyllous) throughout stem length, glabrous, without idioblasts, dark to bluish green above, yellow-green below; lateral leaves ovate-oblong, 1.2–1.5 X 0.5–0.7 mm, acroscopic bases auriculate and strongly overlapping the stems, margins whitish to hyaline, long-ciliate proximally, denticulate distally, apices obtuse to broadly acute; median leaves ovate to suborbicular, 0.7–1.3 X 0.4–0.7 mm, glabrous, without idioblasts, bases subcordate to short-auriculate, margins whitish to hyaline, long-ciliate proximally to shortciliate distally, apices apiculate to short-aristate; axillary leaves ovate to obovate-oblong, bases subauriculate with long hairs, distally denticulate; strobili quadrangular, 2–5 cm long; sporophylls monomorphic; megasporangia on ventral side of strobilus; microsporangia occupying most of strobilus; megaspores yellow, rugulate to reticulate, 200–250 µm diam.; microspores orange.A
Forma de vida
TerrestreA
Ejemplar revisado
Chis (Breedlove 36540, DS, NY, 37259, NY, TEX).A
Elevación
800 – 1000 mA
Ecología y Hábitat
On dry slopes.A
Categoría IUCN
No incluidaB
Categoría NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010
No incluidaC
Discusión taxonómica
Selaginella carioi is characterized by its whitish to hyaline leaf margins, four or more elongate cells wide. This character is more obvious on median leaves, where there is a strong contrast between the whitish margins and the deep green laminae. This species is also characterized by having the bases of the axillary leaves, the inner margins of the median leaves, and the acroscopic bases of the lateral leaves with dense stiff hairs.
Selaginella carioi is closely related to S. reflexa and S. schiedeana but can be distinguished by the characters given in the key. Some authors (Alston, 1955; Fraile in Davidse et al., 1995; Smith, 1981; Stolze, 1983) have synonymized S. carioi under S. reflexa. However, the characters stated above set them apart. Additionally, S. carioi is limited to Chiapas and Guatemala, whereas most specimens of S. reflexa are from the north-central part of Mexico.
The three species mentioned above, S. microphylla (Kunth) Spring from South America, and a probable undescribed species from Guatemala seem to form a natural alliance. This species group is characterized by yellow megaspores; keeled, ciliate sporophylls, with keels denticulate; and axillary rhizophores. Of this group S. carioi, S. reflexa, and S. microphylla seem to be well adapted to dry areas, whereas S. schiedeana usually grows in more humid and wet conditions.A
Selaginella carioi is closely related to S. reflexa and S. schiedeana but can be distinguished by the characters given in the key. Some authors (Alston, 1955; Fraile in Davidse et al., 1995; Smith, 1981; Stolze, 1983) have synonymized S. carioi under S. reflexa. However, the characters stated above set them apart. Additionally, S. carioi is limited to Chiapas and Guatemala, whereas most specimens of S. reflexa are from the north-central part of Mexico.
The three species mentioned above, S. microphylla (Kunth) Spring from South America, and a probable undescribed species from Guatemala seem to form a natural alliance. This species group is characterized by yellow megaspores; keeled, ciliate sporophylls, with keels denticulate; and axillary rhizophores. Of this group S. carioi, S. reflexa, and S. microphylla seem to be well adapted to dry areas, whereas S. schiedeana usually grows in more humid and wet conditions.A