Selaginella indica (Milde) R.M. Tryon, 1955

Shalimov, Aleksandr Petrovich, Wu, Yu-Dong & Zhang, Xian-Chun, 2019, A taxonomic revision of the genus Selaginella (Selaginellaceae) from Nepal, PhytoKeys 133, pp. 1-76 : 1

Selaginella indica (Milde) R.M. Tryon Figs 1 (1 A–C), 9A , 12

Selaginella indica R.M. Tryon, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 42: 52, f. 23, map 32. 1955; Dixit 1992; Zhang 2001; Thapa 2002; Zhang 2004; Zhang et al. 2013; Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2018.

( Selaginella rupestris f. indica Milde, Fil. Eur. Atlan.: 262. 1867, nom. nud.).

≡ Bryodesma indicum (R.M. Tryon) Soják, Preslia 64(2): 154. 1992. Type. INDIA. Khasia 5000 ft., Hooker fil. & Thomson (holotype: GH [00022087]; isotypes: NY [00127400]; P [00279924]; YU [000626]).

= Selaginella emodi Fraser-Jenk., Ferns Fern-Allies Nepal 1: 67. 2015. Type. NEPAL. Central Nepal, Rasuwa District, on path leading up from Dhunche to Chandanbari and Gossainkund, c. 3 km above and E. of Dhunche, N. of Trisuli Bazaar, Rasuwa District, N. of Kathmandu, rocky pathside tussocks of grasses etc. beneath cliff, 2 XII 2004. C. R. Fraser-Jenkins 30915 (holotype: TAIF).

- Selaginella wightii auct. non Hieron.: Panigrahi and Dixit 1968.

- Selaginella vardei auct. non H. Levl.: Ching & Wu, Fl. Xizang. 1: 19, p.p. excl. figure. 1983; H.S. Kung 1988; K.H. Shing 1993.

- Selaginella longipila auct. non Hieron; Alston 1945; Tryon 1955; Dixit 1992.

Description.

Stems 5-15 cm, creeping. Rhizophores at intervals throughout the length of the creeping stem and branches, borne on dorsal side in axils of branches, densely hairy. Main stems anisotomously branched throughout, strongly dorsi-ventral in position, glabrous. Lateral branches arranged on main stem 0.5-1 cm apart, second branches simple or forked. Leaves spirally arranged on all sides stem and branches, more or less isomorphic, long linear-lanceolate, 0.8-2.3 mm excluding seta, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, margin shortly ciliolate, apex acuminate, in apex with long apical seta c. 1/5 as long as leaves. Strobili solitary on erect branchlets, tetragonal, 5-25 × 1.5-2 mm. Sporophylls monomorphic, ovate-triangular or ovate-lanceolate, margin ciliolate, apex acuminate. Megaspores pale-orange, surface rugose; microspores deep yellow, surface rugose to reticulate.

Ecology.

Epilithic, xerophytic, summer-green, in dry areas, forming clumps on moss covered rocks. Alt. 1350-2800 m.

Distribution in Nepal.

W, C, E.

Nepalese threatened status: NT ( Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2015).

General distribution.

CHINA (Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), INDIA (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal).

Chromosome number.

not available data.

Selected specimens examined:

W Nepal: DARCHULA: "Nakarigad-Khandeswori, on mossy slope in open pine forest, alt. 1650 m, 18 Jul 1984, P.R. Shakya, M.K. Adhikari, M.N. Subedi 7882 " (KATH).

C Nepal: RASUWA: "between Lama Hotel and Sharpugaon, alt. 2600-2800 m, 3 Sep 1986, T. Nakaike 1325 " (PE).

E Nepal: TAPLEJUNG: "Takhtem to Chautara, 1350 m, 12 May 1992, N. Acharya 9255056 ", (KATH).

Figures

Figure 1. Morphological diversity of the leaves of Nepalese Sealginella species: 1 A-C S. indica (Nakaike 1325, PE) 2 A-C S. pulvinata (Tabata et al. 3520, PE) 3 A-C S. bryopteris (Tabata et al. 11989, PE). A - Axillary leaves, B - Dorsal leaves, C - Ventral leaves. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Diversity strobili of Nepalese Selaginella species A S. indica (Nakaike 1325, PE) B S. bryopteris (Tabata et al. 11989, PE) C S. fulcrata (Nakaike 1923, PE) D S. involvens (Zhang 345, PE) E S. pallida (Nakaike 3740, PE) F S. remotifolia (Nakaike 3522, PE) G S. semicordata (Jenkins s. n., PE) H S. helvetica (Zhang 0638, PE) I S. pallidissima (Zhang 2746, PE). Scale bars: 1 mm (A-G), 2 mm (F, H-I).

Figure 12. Selaginella indica R. M. Tryon. A Habit B lateral branches with compact tetragonal strobilus C lateral branches with spirally arranged monomorphic leaves (Cooper 4866, E).