Taxon Report

Selaginella eremophila Maxon

desert spike-moss

Print Report

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:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: (May)Jun(Jul)	(May)Jun(Jul)
Elevation:	200-1295 (655-4250)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S2S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	75
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	6
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	67

Location


California Endemic: False
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)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	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%

Notes



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

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 10 February 2025].