spiny spikemoss
ExplorePlants
spiny spikemoss
Selaginella acanthonota
Spiny spikemoss is a unique plant that looks like a tiny green carpet! It has spiky leaves that help it survive in its home, making it special and fun to explore.
Habitat: Mountain regions
Appearance
The spiny spikemoss is a low-growing plant forming dense, vibrant green mats. Its numerous tiny, overlapping leaves are sharply pointed, giving it a prickly, almost metallic texture. This distinct spiky appearance sets it apart from true mosses.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLycopodiopsidaOrderSelaginellalesFamilySelaginellaceaeGenusSelaginella
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Dense mats help slow water runoff and prevent soil erosion.
Even on a warm day, spikemoss often feels cool and damp to the touch.
This ancient plant group lived alongside dinosaurs, making it a living fossil!
Unlike true mosses, spikemosses have real roots, stems, and veins for water!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Defender
Spiny spikemoss can curl up and appear dead in dry times, quickly rehydrating when water returns to survive!
Ability
Spore Shooter
Spiny spikemoss reproduces by scattering tiny spores from specialized cones, allowing it to spread efficiently.
Ability
Creeping Creator
Its branching stems root along the ground, creating new plants as it spreads outwards across its habitat.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-15 cm
- Spread
- 10-30 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eats
Spanish slug
Arion vulgaris
Its tender foliage may be occasionally grazed by slugs and snails.
shelters
White springtail
Folsomia candida
Provides damp, shaded microhabitat for tiny invertebrates like springtails.
depends on
Trumpet tree
Cecropia peltata
Thrives in the stable, shaded conditions provided by larger canopy trees.
Traits
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Mountain
This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is spiny spikemoss?
5-15 cm
How wide does spiny spikemoss spread?
10-30 cm
Is spiny spikemoss edible?
No
Is spiny spikemoss toxic?
None
What is spiny spikemoss's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is spiny spikemoss usually found?
Mountain regions
Snap Map
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