Selaginella sp.

spikemoss

Plants in the genus Selaginella are very ancient, with origins scientists date to about 400 million years ago. These plants are some of the few remaining members of lycophytes, which once dominated earth’s landscape as much larger plants (even tall trees) from about 350 – 290 million years ago and are the oldest existing group of vascular plants; they have very rudimentary vascular tissue. Spikemosses also have very primitive “leaves” that are not true leaves, but rather microphylls (leaf-like structures that have only a single, unbranched vein). Another primitive aspect of the plant is its lack of roots.

One species of Selaginella (moellendorffii) has the smallest genome reported for any plant in existence. Because of the small size and the evolutionary importance of the plant, its genome was one of the first to be sequenced. This plant grows very well in shady areas, especially if they have high humidity and moisture.