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Selaginellaceae Willkomm. Spikemoss Family.

Key to Selaginellaceae

A family of 1-several genera (the generic circumscriptions still somewhat unclear), and about 700 (or more) species. Selaginellaceae, along with Lycopodiaceae and Isoetaceae, now appear to be only distantly related to other extant pteridophytes and seed plants (Pryer et al. 2001). There has been some recent tendency to split Selaginella based on groups that represent very old clades (comparable to the recognition of multiple genera in Lycopodiaceae), though this remains controversial (Soják 1992; Škoda 1997; Korall, Kenrick, & Therrien 1999; Korall & Kenrick 2002). By a conservative approach to generic segregation, we have two to four genera, in which case Selaginella itself (sensu stricto) is restricted to the type species and a close relative. PPG I (2016) and Weststrand & Korall (20161, 2016b) retained Selaginella as a single, broadly defined genus including all members of the family, with recognition of seven major clades worldwide at subgeneric rank. Zhou & Zhang (2023) proposed a more comprehensive restructuring of the family, recognizing 7 subfamilies and 19 genera; we follow this approach, as better representing the diversity in the family, while retaining Selaginella for the majority of species by retypification of Selaginella. Their taxonomic system in its full form is designed to reduce the number of name changes at species rank by conserving Selaginella with a new type, as proposed by Wan et al. (2023).

Ref: Buck (1977); Feio (2018); Jermy In Kramer & Green (1990); Korall & Kenrick (2002); Korall, Kenrick, & Therrien (1999); Lellinger (1985); PPG I (2016); Pryer et al. (2001); Schmidt et al. (2020); Škoda (1997); Soják (1992 [1993]); Somers & Buck (1975); Tang et al. (2023); Tryon (1955); Valdespino (1993) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993b); Wan et al. (2023); Weakley (2023b) In Weakley et al. (2023); Weststrand & Korall (2016a); Weststrand & Korall (2016b); Zhou & Zhang (2015); Zhou & Zhang (2023). Show full citations.

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Bryodesma rupestre, Clinton Nature Preserve, Douglas County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler | Bryodesma rupestre source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Lycopodioides ludovicianum, near Natural Arch, Econfina Creek, Bay County, Florida 2 by Alan Cressler | Selaginella ludoviciana source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Bryodesma | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel | Gymnogynum kraussianum source | Original Image ⭷

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