CNPS

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory



Taxon Details

Selaginella asprella

bluish spike-moss

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Taxon Summary:

Selaginella asprella, commonly known as bluish spike-moss, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Selaginellaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Subalpine coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1600 to 2700 meters. Selaginella asprella is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Selaginella asprella Maxon
Common Name:
bluish spike-moss
Family: Selaginellaceae
Element Code: PPSEL01060
USDA Plants Symbol: SEAS
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status: JEF, FNA, POWO,
IPNI, Tropicos

  Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.3
Fed List: None
State List: None
Global Rank: G4
State Rank:
 S4
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date: 1974-01-01
Date Edited: 2022-06-08

  Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Jul
JFMAMJJASOND
Elevation:
1600 - 2700 meters
5250 - 8860 feet
General Habitats:
  • Cismontane woodland
  • Lower montane coniferous forest
  • Pinyon and juniper woodland
  • Subalpine coniferous forest
  • Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat Details:
Microhabitat:
  • Granitic
  • Rocky

  Notes

Notes:
Previously rejected as too common, but probably merely unthreatened. See Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 72(5):6 (1920) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

  Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
Total EOs % of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed: 0 0 %
THREAT LIST:

  Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
A B C D X U
0 0 0 0 0 0
Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years 0
Recent <=20 Years 0
Presence:
Presumed Extant 0
Possibly Extirpated 0
Presumed Extirpated 0

  Location

California Endemic:
California Island:
States: Name (Code)
Baja California (BA), California (CA)
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN), Los Angeles (LAX), Mariposa (MPA), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG), Tulare (TUL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Apple Valley South (3411742), Crystal Lake (3411737), Descanso (3211675), Fairview (3511884), Juniper Hills (3411748), Lake Arrowhead (3411732), Lamont Peak (3511871), Mariposa (3711948), Mount Laguna (3211674), Mount San Antonio (3411736), Rattlesnake Canyon (3411636), San Jacinto Peak (3311676), Telegraph Peak (3411735), White Water (3311686)
Notes:
Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
* Presumed extirpated
(?) Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.
Regional Map

  Map

Presumed Extant
Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

  Selected References

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Suggested Citation:
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 4 February 2025].
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