Selaginella
Spikemoss plant genus
Selaginella is the botanical genus name for spikemosses, a group of primitive vascular plants with over 700 species found mostly in tropical regions.
The genus dates back hundreds of millions of years.
In scientific contexts, the capitalized form appears in species names: Selaginella lepidophylla, the resurrection plant, curls into a ball when dry. (Lowercase selaginella is the common usage.)
Primitive vascular spore plant
- vascularOf blood vessels
- non-floweringBearing no blossoms
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- rhizomeHorizontal underground plant stem
Coal-depositing geological period
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- primordialExisting from the start
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
Devonian · Permian · Silurian · evolutionary · geological · paleontology · paleobotany · stratigraphy
clubmoss
Primitive vascular spore plant
- vascularOf blood vessels
- non-floweringBearing no blossoms
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
rhizome · gametophyte · dichotomous · branching · spore-bearing
Carboniferous
Coal-depositing geological period
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- primordialExisting from the start
fossil · Devonian · Permian · Silurian · evolutionary · geological · paleontology · paleobotany · stratigraphy
xerophyte
Drought-tolerant plant species
- hygroscopicAbsorbs moisture from surroundings
- Desiccation Survivaltardigrades, tardigrade, water bears, water bear, brine shrimp
- epiphytesair plants, air plant, Spanish moss, staghorn fern, bird's nest fern
- moisture loversmosses, liverworts, ferns, sphagnum, peat moss
Selaginellaangiosperms
Plants producing covered seeds
flowering plants · seed plants · gymnosperms · conifers · oak