Habitat
Selaginella muscosa is native to Central and northern South America, with records from Mexico through Central America into Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It inhabits humid tropical and subtropical forests, where it grows on shaded forest floors, often in leaf litter or on decaying wood. It favours constantly moist, shaded environments at low to mid elevations, typically below 1,500 m, where humidity remains high year-round.
Description
This species forms a low, creeping to mat-forming growth habit, typically reaching 5–15 cm in height but spreading widely to form dense carpets. Stems are slender, highly branched, and rooting at the nodes. The leaves are tiny, overlapping, and imbricate, giving the plant a moss-like appearance—hence the epithet muscosa (“mossy”). Individual leaves are lanceolate to ovate, less than 2 mm long, and bright to dark green depending on light levels and moisture. Reproductive structures occur in small terminal strobili, which are narrow and only a few millimetres long.
Cultivation
Selaginella muscosa requires a constantly moist substrate, as it is highly sensitive to drying out. It thrives in bright, indirect light or deep shade, mimicking its natural forest-floor habitat. The substrate should be rich in organic matter, loose, and well-draining yet moisture-retentive, with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5–6.5. Ideal conditions include daytime temperatures of 22–28 °C and nighttime temperatures of 16–20 °C, with humidity consistently above 70%. It performs well in terrariums or closed environments where moisture and humidity can be controlled. Fertilisation should be light and infrequent, using a diluted balanced fertiliser during the active growth season.
Specifications:
Plant Size: see picture
Plant Family: Selaginellaceae
Plant Passport: Selaginella muscosa B 140084 C 14429 D GB