🇵🇭 Habitat and Ecology
Selaginella jagorii (commonly known as Jagor's Spikemoss) is a tropical lycophyte endemic to the Philippines. It is named in honour of Fedor Jagor, a German naturalist who extensively explored the archipelago in the 19th century. In the wild, it inhabits the wet tropical biome, thriving in the deep shade of lowland and montane rainforests (particularly on the island of Luzon). It typically grows as a terrestrial groundcover or lithophyte on damp, mossy rocks near streams, where humidity remains near saturation year-round.
🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
This plant is a delicate, branching perennial that bridges the visual gap between mosses and ferns.
Growth Habit: Unlike the flat, mat-forming Selaginella uncinata, S. jagorii tends to have a semi-erect to decumbent habit, forming loose, bushy mounds of foliage that can scramble over low obstacles. The stems are slender and wiry, branching profusely.
Foliage: The leaves (microphylls) are small, scale-like, and arranged in four rows along the stem (dimorphic), giving the branches a flattened, fern-frond appearance. The colour is typically a deep, rich green.
Iridescence: Like many shade-dwelling tropical spikemosses, S. jagorii can display a subtle blue-green iridescence (structural colouration) when grown in low light, though it is generally less intensely metallic than the famous "Peacock Moss" (S. uncinata).
Reproduction: It reproduces via spores produced in small, cone-like structures called strobili at the tips of the branches.
🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
Taxonomy: It belongs to the family Selaginellaceae, an ancient lineage of vascular plants (Lycophytes) that predates flowering plants and true ferns. It is evolutionarily considered a "living fossil".
Ethnobotany:
Specific Use: There are no widely recorded traditional medicinal uses specific to Selaginella jagorii in available ethnobotanical literature.
Regional Context: However, other Selaginella species in the Philippines (such as S. tamariscina and S. plana) are locally used in traditional medicine to treat wounds, skin diseases, and menstrual disorders, or as a haemostatic agent (to stop bleeding). It is likely S. jagorii was viewed similarly by indigenous communities or simply lumped into the general category of useful forest herbs.
💧 Cultivation and Care
Selaginella jagorii is an obligate terrarium plant in most non-tropical climates. It is highly sensitive to dry air and requires a controlled environment to thrive.
Light: Requires low to medium indirect light (shade). Direct sunlight will scorch the delicate fronds immediately. It is well-adapted to the dim conditions of a forest floor vivarium.
Substrate: Needs a moisture-retentive, acidic, and airy mix. A classic "jungle mix" of sphagnum moss, coco coir, and orchid bark works well. It resents heavy, compacted soil.
Watering: The root system is fine and shallow. Keep the substrate consistently moist but not soggy. If the soil dries out completely, the plant will collapse and is difficult to revive. Use distilled water or rainwater to prevent mineral damage to the leaves.
Temperature:
Optimal: 20-28 C (68-82 F).
Minimum: Avoid drops below 15 C (59 F). It is not frost-hardy.
Humidity: Very High (75-90%+). This is non-negotiable. Without high humidity, the leaf tips will brown and the plant will eventually perish.
✨ Unique Features
Selaginella jagorii is a collector's rarity primarily sought after by enthusiasts of Philippine flora and specialized vivarium builders. Its bushier, semi-erect habit offers a different texture compared to the common creeping varieties, adding volume and height to the foreground of a planted tank.
🏷️ Specifications
Plant Size: divisions of our stock plant. As depicted above.
Plant Family: Selaginellaceae
Plant Passport: A Selaginella jagorii B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB
