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

Photo: Douglas GoldmanCC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalistView original ↗

spiny spikemoss

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

Spiny spikemoss can curl up and appear dead in dry times, quickly rehydrating when water returns to survive!

Spiny spikemoss reproduces by scattering tiny spores from specialized cones, allowing it to spread efficiently.

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

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify spiny spikemoss?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is spiny spikemoss?

5-15 cm

How wide does spiny spikemoss spread?

10-30 cm

Is spiny spikemoss edible?

Is spiny spikemoss toxic?

None

What is spiny spikemoss's lifecycle?

Perennial

Where is spiny spikemoss usually found?

Mountain regions