Armored Spikemoss: A Rare Caribbean Treasure in Your Garden
Meet the armored spikemoss (Selaginella armata), a fascinating little plant that’s definitely not your typical garden variety! This unique species belongs to an ancient group of plants called lycopods, making it more closely related to ferns than to true mosses, despite its common name. Think of it as a living fossil that’s been quietly doing its thing for millions of years.
What Exactly Is Armored Spikemoss?
Don’t let the moss in its name fool you – armored spikemoss is actually a perennial forb that lacks significant woody tissue. It’s what botanists call a vascular plant, meaning it has a proper plumbing system to move water and nutrients around, unlike true mosses. The armored part of its name likely refers to its tough, scale-like leaves that give it a protective appearance.
This little survivor is native exclusively to Puerto Rico, where it has adapted to some pretty specific conditions. You won’t find it growing wild anywhere else in the world, making it a true Caribbean endemic.
A Wetland Specialist
Here’s where things get really interesting – armored spikemoss is what we call an obligate wetland plant. This means it almost always needs consistently moist to wet conditions to thrive. In its native Puerto Rican habitat, you’ll typically find it in areas that stay pretty soggy year-round.
Conservation Status: Handle with Care
Before you get too excited about adding this unique plant to your collection, there’s something important to know. Armored spikemoss has a conservation status of S3S4, which suggests it may be somewhat uncommon to apparently secure in its native range. While this doesn’t mean it’s critically endangered, it does mean we should be thoughtful about how we interact with this species.
If you’re lucky enough to encounter armored spikemoss or have the opportunity to grow it, make sure any plant material comes from responsible, sustainable sources. Never collect plants from the wild, especially rare native species like this one.
Is It Right for Your Garden?
Given its specialized wetland requirements and limited native range, armored spikemoss isn’t going to be the right fit for most gardens. Unless you’re creating a specialized bog garden or have consistently wet conditions, this little plant probably won’t be happy in a typical landscape setting.
However, if you’re passionate about rare plants, have the right growing conditions, and can source plants responsibly, armored spikemoss could be an incredibly unique addition to a specialized collection. Just remember that you’d essentially be caring for a piece of Puerto Rican natural heritage!
The Bottom Line
Armored spikemoss is more of a botanical curiosity than a practical garden plant for most folks. Its beauty lies in its rarity and ancient lineage rather than showy flowers or dramatic foliage. If you’re interested in supporting native plant conservation, consider focusing on native plants from your own region that are more readily available and better suited to typical garden conditions.
For those in Puerto Rico or with very specialized growing setups, this unique spikemoss represents an opportunity to connect with one of the island’s distinctive native species – just be sure to do so responsibly!
