Selaginella pallidissima Spring

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 pallidissima Spring Figs 4 (2 A–C), 9I , 22

Selaginella pallidissima Spring, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 10: 231. 1843; Alston 1945; Iwatsuki 1975; Iwatsuki 1988; Dixit 1992; Thapa 2002; Zhang 2004; Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2015; Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2017. Type. INDIA. V. Jacquemont 2331 (holotype: P [00523060]), Himalaya, alt. 3000 m. V. Jacquemont 2331 (isotype: K [001067411]).

- Selaginella integerrima sensu Strachey, Gaz. North-West Prov.: 66. 1882, non Spring, 1850.

Description.

Stems 15-35 cm, creeping. Rhizophores at intervals throughout length of main stem, borne on ventral side in axils of branches. Main stems branched throughout, pinnately branched, 0.3-0.5 mm in diam. in lower part. Main stems stramineous or reddish, angulate, sulcate. Axillary leaves ovate, 2-3 × 1-1.5 mm, base subcordate, margin minutely denticulate, apex acuminate. Ventral leaves ovate or ovate-triangular, 1.8-3.2 × 1.1-1.8 mm, basiscopic base rounded, margin denticulate, acroscopic base enlarged, overlapping stem and branches, margin denticulate or ciliolate in basal portion, apex acute. Dorsal leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2.2 × 0.6-1.3 mm, base subcordate, margin minutely denticulate or ciliolate, apex acuminate. Strobili solitary or rarely paired, terminal, 6-10 × 1-2 mm. Sporophylls dimorphic, dorsal sporophylls ovate, oblique, in base subcordate, margin shortly ciliolate or denticulate, apex acute, ventral sporophylls ovate or oblong-ovate, not carinate, margin denticulate. Megaspores sulfur colored or yellowish orange, surface verrucate, microspores orange-red, surface covered with spinulose microsculpture.

Ecology.

Terrestrial or epilithic, on steep, open, rather dry banks among grasses, seasonally green. Alt. 2700-3300 m.

Distribution Nepal.

W, C, E.

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

General distribution.

CHINA (Sichuan, Yunnan, Xizang), INDIA (Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh).

Chromosome number.

Not available data.

Selected specimens examined:

Nepal: "Manglui Banjuang, alt. 2800 m, 28 Jul 1972, A. Maire AMA 443 " (E00670584).

W Nepal: JUMLA: "Ghurchi Lekh, near Chautha, alt. 10,000 ft, 28 Aug 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 3068 " (E, photo; US, photo).

DOLPA: "Rohagaon, Suli Gad, alt. 9500 ft, 13 Sep 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 3364 " (E, photo; US, photo; KYO, photo); "l.c. 3365 " (KYO, photo); "Near Hurta, Bhalu Lekh, alt. 9000 ft, 5 Aug 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 3178 " (E; KYO, photo).

DOTI: "Dotu-Siligarhi, foliage red brown, in rocky stream bed, alt. 4500 ft, 1 Apr 1967, N. Ecker-Racz " (US, photo).

C Nepal: MUSTANG: "Tukucha, Kali Gandaki, alt. 10500 ft, 13 Jun 1954, J.D.A. Stainton, W.R. Sykes and L.H.J. Williams 1110 " (E, photo).

Figures

Figure 4. Morphological diversity of the leaves of Nepalese Sealginella species 1 A-C S. helvetica (Zhang 0638, PE) 2 A-C S. pallidissima (Zhang 2746, PE) 3 A-C S. laxistrobila (Nakaike 1319, 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 22. Selaginella pallidissima Spring, A Habit B strobilus, lower surface C fragment of the upper surface of the lateral branches D fragment of the lower surface of the lateral branches (X. C. Zhang 2746, PE).