Bluish spikemoss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluish spikemoss |
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Selaginella asprella is a cool little plant often called the bluish spikemoss. It's a type of spikemoss, which are ancient plants related to ferns. This plant is special because it grows in specific places in California and Baja California.
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What is Bluish Spikemoss?
The bluish spikemoss, Selaginella asprella, is a type of spikemoss. Spikemosses are part of a very old group of plants called lycophytes. These plants have been around for millions of years! They are not true mosses, but they look a bit like them.
Its Plant Family
Spikemosses are in the family Selaginellaceae. They are different from true mosses because they have roots and a vascular system. This system helps them move water and nutrients through the plant.
Where Does It Live?
Its Home in North America
The bluish spikemoss lives in parts of California and Baja California. It has a "disjunct distribution." This means it grows in some areas, then there's a big gap, and then it grows again in other areas far away. For example, you can find it in the Klamath Mountains. Then, you have to travel hundreds of miles south to find it again in other mountain ranges.
Where It Likes to Grow
This plant loves rocky places in the mountains. You can often find it on cliffs made of limestone rock. It also grows on forest ridges. It needs these specific rocky habitats to thrive.
How Does It Look?
The bluish spikemoss grows in flat mats. It has many short stems that twist together. These stems often fork, meaning they split into two branches.
Its Stems and Leaves
The stems can break apart easily, especially when they get dry. This might be a way for the plant to spread to new places. Its leaves are green and shaped like a spear, which is called "lance-shaped." They can grow up to 5 or 6 millimeters long. Each leaf has soft bristles at its tip. The leaves are all similar in shape. They grow in groups of four around the stem, forming a squarish pattern. The leaves lie flat against the stem.
