🇫🇯 Habitat and Ecology
​Selaginella victoriae is a magnificent tropical lycophyte native to the Pacific Island of Fiji. It is a species of the wet tropical rainforest, typically inhabiting the deep, shaded understory of lowland to lower montane forests. It thrives in highly humid, sheltered ravines and on the banks of streams where the air is consistently saturated and the light levels are low.
​🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This species is often regarded as one of the most beautiful of the "Spikemosses" due to its size and structure, resembling a true fern more than a moss.
​Habit: Unlike the small creeping mats of S. kraussiana, Selaginella victoriae is a robust, terrestrial species. It produces erect to semi-erect (ascending) stems that can reach 30-45 cm in length. These stems branch outward to form broad, flattened fronds that look remarkably like fern leaves.
​Foliage: The "fronds" are comprised of flattened branches bearing dimorphic leaves (microphylls). The lateral leaves are spreading and slightly curved.
​Iridescence: In its natural shaded habitat, the foliage often displays a stunning structural iridescence, shimmering with metallic blue-green or bronze hues to capture low light efficiently.
​Reproduction: It reproduces via spores found in tetragonal strobili (cones) at the tips of the branchlets.
​🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
​Taxonomy: Described by T. Moore in 1878, the specific epithet victoriae likely honours Queen Victoria, a common dedication for impressive botanical discoveries of the British colonial era. It belongs to the family Selaginellaceae, an ancient lineage of vascular plants that reproduces via spores but differs from true ferns in having microphylls (single-veined leaves).
​Ethnobotany:
​Pacific Context: While specific medicinal records for S. victoriae are sparse, Selaginella species in the Pacific (Melanesia) are occasionally used in traditional medicine. In Fiji, related species are sometimes used in decoctions for internal ailments or as poultices, though S. victoriae is primarily valued today for its ornamental aesthetic in tropical gardens and terrariums.
​Horticulture: It serves as a prime example of "shade flora" adaptation, used educationally to demonstrate the evolutionary history of plants before the dominance of flowering species.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Selaginella victoriae is a tender tropical that requires high warmth and humidity, making it an obligate terrarium or greenhouse plant in temperate regions.
​Light: Requires deep shade to low indirect light. It is adapted to the forest floor; direct sun will bleach the fronds and destroy the metallic sheen.
​Substrate: Needs a rich, moisture-retentive, yet porous mix. A blend of peat moss, leaf mould, and perlite mimics the organic detritus of the rainforest floor. It prefers a slightly acidic pH.
​Watering: Water frequently to keep the soil constantly moist. It does not tolerate drying out. Use warm, distilled water or rainwater to prevent thermal shock and mineral spotting.
​Temperature:
​Optimal: 20-29 C (68-84 F).
​Minimum: It is highly sensitive to cold. Temperatures below 15 C (59 F) can cause die-back.
​Humidity: Very High (80-100%). It relies on ambient moisture to keep its fronds turgid. It is ideally suited for a bottle garden or Wardian case.
​✨ Unique Features
​The standout feature of Selaginella victoriae is its erect, fern-like architecture combined with its dark, metallic iridescence. It bridges the visual gap between a moss and a fern, offering a prehistoric, "Jurassic" look to a tropical collection that smaller creeping species cannot match.
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: 1 or 2 stem divisions from our stock plant. 
Plant Family: Selaginellaceae
Plant Passport: A Selaginella victoriae B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB