Deflexed Spikemoss: A Rare Hawaiian Wetland Treasure
Meet the deflexed spikemoss (Selaginella deflexa), one of Hawaii’s most intriguing and rare native plants. Don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t actually a moss at all! It’s a fascinating little spikemoss that belongs to an ancient group of plants called lycopods, making it more closely related to ferns than to true mosses.
What Exactly Is Deflexed Spikemoss?
Deflexed spikemoss is a perennial forb – essentially a non-woody plant that lacks the thick, woody stems you’d find on shrubs or trees. Instead of growing tall and mighty, this little plant keeps things low-key, staying close to the ground where it can thrive in Hawaii’s unique wetland environments.
As a lycopod, this plant is like a living fossil, representing an ancient lineage that has been around since long before flowering plants took over the world. These plants reproduce through spores rather than seeds, giving them a completely different life cycle than most garden plants you might be familiar with.
Where Does It Call Home?
This special plant is found exclusively in Hawaii, where it’s a true native treasure. You won’t find deflexed spikemoss growing wild anywhere else in the world – it’s what we call an endemic species, meaning Hawaii is its one and only natural home.
A Wetland Specialist
Here’s where things get really interesting: deflexed spikemoss is what botanists call an obligate wetland plant. This means it almost always lives in wetland environments – think soggy soils, marshy areas, and places where water is a constant presence. It’s not the type of plant that can handle dry conditions or typical garden settings.
Should You Grow It in Your Garden?
While deflexed spikemoss might sound like an exciting addition to your plant collection, there are some important considerations before you start hunting for seeds (spoiler alert: it doesn’t make seeds anyway!).
First, this plant has a conservation status of S1S2, which indicates it’s quite rare and potentially vulnerable. This rarity means a few things:
- It’s not readily available through typical nursery channels
- Any specimens should be responsibly sourced to avoid impacting wild populations
- It requires very specific growing conditions that are difficult to replicate in most gardens
Growing Conditions and Care
If you’re determined to work with this unique plant, you’ll need to create a specialized wetland environment. Remember, this is an obligate wetland species, so it needs:
- Consistently moist to wet soil conditions
- High humidity levels
- Specialized soil that mimics natural wetland conditions
- Protection from drying winds
This isn’t your typical water twice a week houseplant – we’re talking about creating a mini wetland ecosystem, which is quite an undertaking for most gardeners.
How to Identify Deflexed Spikemoss
Since this is such a specialized and rare plant, identification is crucial if you’re exploring Hawaiian wetlands. Look for a small, low-growing plant that doesn’t look quite like a typical moss or fern. Spikemosses have tiny, scale-like leaves arranged in distinct patterns along their stems, giving them a unique texture and appearance.
However, given its rarity, if you think you’ve spotted deflexed spikemoss in the wild, it’s best to observe and photograph rather than disturb the plant.
The Bottom Line
Deflexed spikemoss is undoubtedly a fascinating plant with an important role in Hawaii’s native ecosystems. However, its rarity, specialized wetland requirements, and conservation concerns make it unsuitable for most home gardens. Instead of trying to grow this rare species, consider supporting its conservation by:
- Learning about and protecting Hawaiian wetland habitats
- Growing other native Hawaiian plants that are more readily available and garden-appropriate
- Supporting organizations working to conserve rare native species
Sometimes the best way to appreciate a rare plant is to admire it in its natural habitat and work to ensure it stays there for future generations to discover and enjoy.
