Presented in Association with the Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Selaginellaceae (Spikemoss Family)
The Selaginellaceae, as they are represented in the Gila National Forest, are small perennials forming creeping, dense mats on rocks in canyons with partial shade. They are mosslike in appearance, but they have fertile linear leaves at the end of branches with sporangia occurring in the axils. There are tropical members of this family that are quite a bit larger than those in our area.