Arizona Spike Moss
Selaginella arizonica
Photographed at South Mountains, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Dec. 2008.
PERENNIAL: long-lived moss-like plant which quickly recovers to luxuriant
green within days of a refreshing desert rain. Generally growing from crevices
and prostrate on soil or boulders and more likely to be in green, growing
condition during the winter-spring months.
LEAVES: Leaves are small, triangular, and minutely serrate on the
margins. With drought the stems and leaves turn brown and curl tightly into
crown of the plant. These resurrect with rainfall.
RANGE: In the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico on shady slopes in
the mountains.
FLOWERS: None. This plant reproduces by spores released from sporangia.
UNARMED No spines.