| Home | > | List of families | > | Selaginellaceae | > | Selaginella | > | lewalleana |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Plant sub-erect, main stem up to 40 cm long and about 1.5 mm wide, subcylindrical and with 2 lateral grooves when dry, glabrous, greenish-yellow, brownish towards the top, branched from the base; rhizophores almost along its entire length but especially in the lower part, numerous, stout, up to 15 cm long and about 1 mm in diam., reflexed; branches 2–3-pinnate, diverging 45º with stem, primary branches up to 10–15(–30) cm long. Leaves heteromorphic, shiny green on the dorsal side, pale green with silver reflections on the ventral side; lateral leaves closely spaced or imbricated, c. 4 x 2 mm, midrib almost reaching the apex, apex pointed, uneven, acroscopic side semi-oval to lanceolate, shortly auriculate at the base, long and densely ciliate in the basal part and ciliate towards the top, basiscopic side semi-oblong, truncated at the base, with entire margin and revolute at the dry state; median leaves spaced closely spaced or imbricated, about 2.5 x 1.5 mm (awn included), subcircular, slightly unequal, midrib clearly visible, cordate at base, with hyaline and ciliate margin, awned, with hyaline awn up to about 1 mm long, loosely serrate; axillary leaves c. 3 x 1.8 mm, ovate-lanceolate, midrib reaching apex, cordate at base, margin ciliate below and subentire above, acute at apex. Strobili solitary or doubled (geminate?) at the end of the last branches, up to 15 x 2 mm. Sporophylls dimorphic; dorsal sporophylls green, c. 2 x 1 mm, ovate-lanceolate, slightly unequal, with hyaline margin shortly ciliate or serrate, acute at apex, keeled, with pale green keel, well developed, very shortly ciliate; ventral sporophylls very pale green, c. 1.5 x 1 mm, broadly ovate, with shortly ciliate hyaline margin, acuminate at apex; spores of 2 kinds. |
| Type location: |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | lewalleana: named after José Lewalle, a Belgian botanist (1931-2004). |
| Habitat: | Wet ground in the dense humid mountain forest, marshes, wet rocks at the edge of trails |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1500 - 2000 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Burundi, Rwanda. |
| National distribution: | |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Fischer E. & Lobin W. (2024). Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. Willdenowia 53(3) Page 154. Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 44. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 27. |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Selaginellaceae | > | Selaginella | > | lewalleana |