Selaginella ×neomexicana: A Mysterious Southwestern Spike Moss
Have you ever stumbled across a tiny, moss-like plant in the American Southwest and wondered what you were looking at? You might have encountered Selaginella ×neomexicana, a fascinating and somewhat enigmatic member of an ancient plant family that’s been quietly thriving for millions of years.
What Exactly Is Selaginella ×neomexicana?
Despite its moss-like appearance, Selaginella ×neomexicana isn’t actually a moss at all! It belongs to a group called lycophytes, or spike mosses, which are among the oldest vascular plants on Earth. The × in its name tells us something special – this is a hybrid, meaning it’s the result of two different Selaginella species coming together to create something new.
This perennial plant is classified as a forb, which simply means it’s a vascular plant without woody stems above ground. Think of it as nature’s way of creating a living carpet that hugs close to the earth.
Where You’ll Find This Southwestern Native
Selaginella ×neomexicana calls the American Southwest home, specifically making its presence known in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. As a native species to these regions, it has adapted perfectly to the unique conditions of this landscape over countless generations.
Is It Beneficial in Your Garden?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. Because Selaginella ×neomexicana is a hybrid with a very limited range, it’s quite rare and specialized. While spike mosses in general can be interesting additions to rock gardens or xeriscapes, this particular species is more of a botanical curiosity than a practical garden plant.
If you’re interested in incorporating native spike mosses into your southwestern landscape, you’d be better served looking for more common local Selaginella species that are readily available and better understood in terms of cultivation needs.
How to Identify This Elusive Plant
Spotting Selaginella ×neomexicana in the wild requires a keen eye, as it shares many characteristics with other spike mosses:
- Low-growing, carpet-like appearance
- Tiny, scale-like leaves arranged in overlapping patterns
- Creeping or mat-forming growth habit
- Produces spores rather than flowers or seeds
- Often found in rocky or sandy soils
The challenge lies in distinguishing it from its parent species and other relatives – something that often requires botanical expertise and sometimes even genetic analysis!
A Living Link to Ancient Times
What makes Selaginella ×neomexicana truly special isn’t its garden potential, but its place in natural history. These plants represent an evolutionary bridge between simple mosses and more complex vascular plants. They’ve been perfecting their survival strategies since long before dinosaurs walked the Earth.
If you’re lucky enough to spot this rare hybrid during your southwestern adventures, take a moment to appreciate that you’re looking at a living piece of botanical history. Just remember to observe and photograph rather than collect – its rarity makes every individual plant precious for maintaining genetic diversity in wild populations.
The Bottom Line
While Selaginella ×neomexicana might not be the showstopper you add to your garden wishlist, it’s absolutely worth knowing about as part of our incredible native plant heritage. Sometimes the most interesting plants are the ones that quietly go about their business, connecting us to the deep past while adapting to an ever-changing world.
For gardeners in the Southwest interested in native ground covers, consider exploring other well-documented native options that can give you that low, textural interest while supporting local ecosystems in more predictable ways.
