LEAVES: 2.5-4.5 mm long, the margins relatively short-cilate, cilia 0.02-0.07 mm long, the tip lacking a seta or with a seta 0.4-1.2 mm long, this glabrous, sparsely denticulate, or sparsely puberulent. SPOROPHYLLS: with the margins ciliate proximally grading to denticulate distally, the tip lacking a seta or with a short poorly differentiated seta. [S. scopulorum Maxon]. NOTES: See also parent taxon. Exposed rock ledges and rock outcrops in high mountains on volcanic substrates: Apache Co. (Fig. 1B); 3250-3500 m (10,650-11,500 ft); WA to MN s to n CA, AZ, and NM; w Can. Some botanists consider this taxon to represent a separate species. However, Tryon (1955) indicated that some plants at the summit of Mt. Baldy, are somewhat intermediate in morphology with var. densa. The situation requires more detailed biosystematic study. REFERENCES: Yatskievych, G. and M. D. Windham. 2009. Vascular Plants of Arizona: Selaginellaceae. CANOTIA 5 (1): 39-48.
Common Name: Rocky Mountain spikemoss Rarity: G5T4 Etymology: Selaginella is a diminutive of Selago, the name of another similar plant, Synonyms: Selaginella engelmannii var. scopulorum, S. scopulorum