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Selaginella densa

Rydb.

Dense Spikemoss

G5Secure Found in 53 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134810
Element CodePPSEL010C4
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumLycophyta
ClassIsoetopsida
OrderSelaginellales
FamilySelaginellaceae
GenusSelaginella
Synonyms
Selaginella densa var. densa
Other Common Names
Sélaginelle dense (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
FNA (1993, vol. 2) elevates Selaginella densa var. densa to S. densa.

FNA (1993, vol. 2) and the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (2016) recognize the family Selaginellaceae with a single genus, Selaginella. Attempts to recognize subgenera (e.g., six in Zhou and Zhang 2015, seven in Weststrand and Korall 2016) lack consistency, and the elevation of subgenera to nineteen genera in Zhou and Zhang (2023) has mixed acceptance. While Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team (2025) treat their fifteen taxa in four genera, Valdespino et al. (2024) provide justification to conserve Selaginellaceae in a single genus with approximately 750 taxa, which the World Flora Online (2025) accepts, following the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-10-13
Change Date2015-10-13
Ecology & Habitat
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
SaskatchewanS4Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
ManitobaS3Yes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
UtahSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
IdahoSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
WyomingS5Yes
MontanaSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
ArizonaS2Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (53)
Colorado (2)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
Montana (20)
AreaForestAcres
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Chico PeakGallatin National Forest10,744
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Fishtail SaddlebackCuster National Forest16,359
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
Snowcrest MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,649
New Mexico (6)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Comales CanyonCarson National Forest4,389
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
Mt. TaylorCibola National Forest6,355
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
North Dakota (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bullion ButteDakota Prairie Grasslands19,877
Kinley PlateauDakota Prairie Grasslands16,900
MagpieDakota Prairie Grasslands21,281
Ponderosa PineDakota Prairie Grasslands7,471
Strom - HansonDakota Prairie Grasslands18,957
Utah (2)
AreaForestAcres
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
Little West Fork BlacksWasatch-Cache National Forest8,209
Wyoming (15)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
Encampment River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest4,996
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grommund CreekBighorn National Forest12,089
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Platte River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,962
Savage Run AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest2,368
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
References (9)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I. 2016. A Community-Derived Classification for Extant Lycophytes and Ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54(6): 563–603.
  4. Valdespino, I.A., Korall, P., Weststrand, S., López, C.A., Tang, J.Y., Shalimov, A., and X.C. Zhang. 2024. Rebuttal to “(2943) Proposal to conserve <i>Selaginella</i>, nom. cons.,(Selaginellaceae) with a conserved type”: An unwarranted and disruptive idea. Taxon 73(2): 573-585.
  5. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).
  6. Weststrand, S., and P. Korall. 2016. A subgeneric classification of <i>Selaginella</i> (Selaginellaceae). American Journal of Botany 103(12): 2160-2169.
  7. World Flora Online (WFO). 2025. Selaginellaceae Willk. Online. Available: <a href="http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-7000000562">http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-7000000562</a>. Accessed on 24 April 2025.
  8. Zhou, X.M., and L.B. Zhang. 2015. A classification of <i>Selaginella</i> (Selaginellaceae) based on molecular (chloroplast and nuclear), macromorphological, and spore features. Taxon 64(6): 1117-1140.
  9. Zhou, X.M. and L.B. Zhang. 2023. Phylogeny, character evolution, and classification of Selaginellaceae (lycophytes). Plant Diversity 45(6): 630-684.