Heartleaf Spikemoss: A Rare Caribbean Treasure
Meet heartleaf spikemoss (Selaginella cordifolia), one of nature’s most ancient plant lineages that’s been quietly thriving in Puerto Rico’s wetlands for millennia. This fascinating little plant isn’t actually a moss at all – it’s a spikemoss, part of an ancient group called lycopods that predates even the dinosaurs!
What Exactly Is Heartleaf Spikemoss?
Despite its common name, heartleaf spikemoss is quite different from true mosses. As a lycopod, it’s more closely related to ferns and represents one of Earth’s oldest plant families. These prehistoric survivors have been around for over 400 million years, making them living fossils in today’s gardens and natural landscapes.
Selaginella cordifolia grows as a perennial forb – that’s botanist-speak for a non-woody plant that comes back year after year. Unlike trees or shrubs, it doesn’t develop thick, woody stems but instead maintains soft, herbaceous growth throughout its life.
Where Does It Call Home?
This special little plant is a true Puerto Rican native, found exclusively on this beautiful Caribbean island. It’s perfectly adapted to Puerto Rico’s unique climate and growing conditions, where it has evolved over thousands of years.
A Wetland Specialist
Here’s where heartleaf spikemoss gets really interesting – it’s what botanists call an obligate wetland plant. This means it almost always needs wet, saturated soils to thrive. You’ll find it naturally growing in Puerto Rico’s marshes, swamps, and other consistently moist areas where many other plants would struggle.
Is It Beneficial for Gardens?
While heartleaf spikemoss could potentially be beneficial in very specific garden situations, it comes with some important considerations:
- It requires consistently wet to saturated soil conditions
- As a Puerto Rican native, it’s adapted to tropical Caribbean conditions
- It appears to be quite rare, with limited information available about cultivation
- It would only be suitable for gardeners in similar tropical, wetland environments
How to Identify Heartleaf Spikemoss
Identifying lycopods like heartleaf spikemoss can be tricky since they’re often confused with true mosses. Here’s what to look for:
- Small, scale-like leaves arranged in patterns along the stems
- Growth in consistently wet, marshy conditions
- Presence in Puerto Rican wetland habitats
- Perennial growth habit (returns year after year)
Conservation Considerations
Given the limited information available about this species and its restricted range to Puerto Rico, heartleaf spikemoss may be quite rare. If you’re lucky enough to encounter it in the wild, it’s best to observe and appreciate it without disturbing its natural habitat. For gardeners interested in wetland plants, consider exploring other native wetland species that are better documented and more readily available through responsible nursery sources.
The Bottom Line
Heartleaf spikemoss represents a fascinating glimpse into plant evolution and the unique biodiversity of Puerto Rico’s wetlands. While it’s not a practical choice for most gardens due to its specialized needs and apparent rarity, it serves as a wonderful reminder of the incredible diversity of plant life on our planet. If you’re interested in growing wetland plants, look for well-documented native species in your area that can provide similar ecological benefits without the uncertainty surrounding rare species like this one.
