Selaginella uliginosa is a small plant in the spikemoss family Selaginellaceae which is endemic to Australia. An ancient and primitive plant, usually under 10 centimetres tall, it is often seen in sunny moist areas. The specific epithet uliginosa is from Latin, referring to the plant's preference for growing in swampy locations.
| Swamp selaginella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Lycophytes |
| Class: | Lycopodiopsida |
| Order: | Selaginellales |
| Family: | Selaginellaceae |
| Genus: | Selaginella |
| Species: | S. uliginosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Selaginella uliginosa | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Taxonomy edit
This species was first described by the French biologist Jacques Labillardière, based on specimens he collected during his journey to Australia in 1792. He placed it in the clubmosses, giving it the name Lycopodium uliginosum.[4][5] In 1891 the German botanist Otto Kuntze transferred it to the genus Lycopodioides (a name meaning "similar to Lycopodium") combined with the species epithet uliginosa.[6] That genus is now recognised as a synonym of Selaginella,[7] and this species was formally transferred to it by the German/Belgian botanist Antoine Frédéric Spring in 1843.[2][3]
Etymology edit
The species epithet uliginosa is from the Latin word ūlīginōsa, meaning marshes or wetlands, and is a reference to the preferred habitat of the plant.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Species profile—Selaginella uliginosa". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Selaginella uliginosa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Selaginella uliginosa (Labill.) Spring". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Lycopodium uliginosum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Lycopodium uliginosum". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Lycopodioides uliginosa". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Lycopodioides Boehm". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 304
 | This lycophyte-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |