Taxon Details

Selaginella eremophila

desert spike-moss

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Taxon Summary:

Selaginella eremophila, commonly known as desert spike-moss, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Selaginellaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral, Sonoran desert scrub (gravelly, and rocky), growing at elevations from 200 to 1295 meters. Selaginella eremophila is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Selaginella eremophila Maxon
Common Name: desert spike-moss
Family:	Selaginellaceae
Element Code:	PPSEL010G0
USDA Plants Symbol:	SEER
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S2S3
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2021-05-26

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: (May)Jun(Jul)

Elevation:
200 - 1295 meters
655 - 4250 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral
Sonoran desert scrub (gravelly, rocky)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Known in CA from approximately twenty occurrences. See Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 72(5):3 (1920) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	5
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	8	11 %
Non-native plant impacts	4	5%
ORV activity	3	4%
Foot traffic/trampling	2	2%
Development	1	1%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	1%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					75
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	6	1	0	0	67

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	29
Recent <=20 Years	46

Presence:
Presumed Extant	75
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Arizona (AZ), Baja California (BA), California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), Riverside (RIV), San Diego (SDG)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Agua Caliente Springs (3211683), Arroyo Tapiado (3211682), Beauty Mountain (3311646), Borrego Palm Canyon (3311634), Borrego Sink (3311623), Bucksnort Mtn. (3311645), Cathedral City (3311674), Corn Spring (3311563), Cuyamaca Peak (3211685), Desert Hot Springs (3311685), Earthquake Valley (3311614), East Deception Canyon (3311683), Harper Canyon (3311612), Hayfield Spring (3311565), In-ko-pah Gorge (3211661), Jacumba (3211662), Julian (3311615), La Quinta (3311663), Monument Peak (3211684), Palm Springs (3311675), Palm View Peak (3311665), Pilot Mountain (3311553), Rancho Mirage (3311664), Seven Palms Valley (3311684), Sombrero Peak (3211673), Sweeney Pass (3211672), Tubb Canyon (3311624), Whale Peak (3311613), 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

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory