Habitat
Selaginella involvens is native to East and Southeast Asia, with a distribution from China and Taiwan through Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. It grows in moist forest floors, shaded banks, and rocky slopes from lowland valleys up to around 2,000 m elevation. It thrives in humid, shaded places with consistent moisture.
Description
This species is a creeping, mat-forming lycophyte that spreads by delicate, branched stems. The leaves are dimorphic, arranged in four rows, with the lateral leaves ovate to lanceolate, 1–2.5 mm long, and the median leaves smaller and more scale-like. Foliage often appears bright green with a slightly glaucous sheen, giving mats a soft texture. Strobili are produced at stem tips, 5–15 mm long, bearing sporangia that release spores. Plants typically form dense colonies carpeting moist ground or rocks.
Cultivation
Selaginella involvens requires bright but indirect light, avoiding direct sun. The soil or substrate should be well-drained yet consistently moist, ideally a mix of peat, fine bark, and sand with a slightly acidic pH around 5.5–6.5. Maintain high humidity (70–90%) and avoid drying out. Optimal growth occurs at daytime temperatures of 22–28 °C and nighttime 16–20 °C. Fertilize very lightly with a diluted balanced fertiliser during active growth. Best grown in terrariums, greenhouses, or shaded outdoor gardens in tropical climates.
Specifications
Plant Size: divisions of 1-3 stems. Grown in pots
Plant Family: Selaginellaceae
Plant Passport: A Selaginella involvens B 140084 C [user inout D GB