Selaginella is an important plant with many uses. It has nutritional, medicinal, ornamental, ecological, mythological and economic value. There are over 700 species classified in the Lycopodiophyta division. Some common species cultivated include S. kraussiana, S. moellendorffii, S. erythropus, S. uncinata, and S. lepidophylla. Selaginella can be used in landscaping for groundcover, containers, terrariums, bioswales, and naturalistic or xeriscaped gardens. It grows best with indirect light, high humidity, and constantly moist soil and can be propagated through cuttings. Large-

1. BIRSA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
TOPIC- Importance, Classification, Design values and
general cultivation aspects of selaginellas.
Subject : Ornamental Horticulture
Submitted to:
Dr. Monika Patel
Submitted by:
Vibha Kumari(23)

2. Importance and
Classification of Selaginella

3. Importance
Economic
Importance
Nutritional
value
Others
Medicinal
value
Ornamental
value
Ecological
Importance
Mythological
Importance

4. Nutritional Value
• Selaginella bryopteris is a lithophyte with remarkable
resurrection capabilities.
• Several species of Selaginella are also used as food (raw
vegetables)
• The aqueous extract of S. bryopteris possesses growth-
promoting activity as well as protective action against stress-
induced cell death in a number of experimental cell systems
including mammalian cells.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

5. • Selaginella Extract may possess anti-stress and antioxidant
activities that could be responsible for the observed effects.
• Chemical analysis shows that Selaginella Extract contains
hexoses and proteins.
• S. bryopteris extract may help in stress-induced complications
including those due to heat shock

6. Selaginella extracts used for various dietary supplements

7. Medicinal Value
• Relief from heat stroke and the burning sensation during
urination.
• Restoring menstrual irregularities to normal.
• Helping in easy delivery of pregnant women in minimizing the
labor pain.
• In the treatment of Jaundice.
• Anti-protozoal activity.
• In the treatment of HIV infection.
• Growth promoting and protective activity.

8. • Improvement of learning and memory.
• In dehydration.
• Increases endurance to oxidative stress
Scientific name Medical Uses
Selaginella opaca Wounds, Menstruation
Selaginella plana Heart disease, Stroke, Tonic for malaria
patients
Selaginella argentea Headache and high fever
Selaginella delicatula Gastric illness
Selaginella exaltata Spleen disease and stomach ache
Selaginella deoderleinii Anti-cancer
Selaginella involvens Wounds, Menstruation

9. Ornamental Value
Some species of Selaginella are also
used during Christmas festival as
grassland and various type of table
decoration
e.g. : Selaginella martensii

10. Others
• Species like Selaginella lepidophylla also
well known as “Rose of Jerico” is a spiritual
plant with amazing abilities and uses.
• In spiritual practices, its believed to have
spiritual energy which brings peace,
prosperity and abundance to home or
business.
• Protects against illness and all types of
negative energies and vibrations.
• Used as Holy water to bless people.

11. • According to Hindu mythology, ‘Sanjeevani’ is a magical herb which
has the power to cure any malady.
• In the Ramayana poet Tulsidas, mentioned the description of
wonder herb, ‘Sanjeevani’ (ie. Selaginella bryopteris) when,
Lakshmana fell unconscious, near death, hit by an arrow from
Ravana, Sushena (Lankan Royal Physician) asked Hanuman to bring
four plants:
MYTHOLOGICAL
IMPORTANCE

12. • Hanuman, not able to identify them from the multitude and
brought back with entire hill and Lakshmana was revived.
• Thus it is likely that Sanjeevani had properties capable of
awakening or rejuvenating. It is also likely that owing to
similarities of the syndrome of this stage with that of death,
story tellers have termed the herb as a ‘life giver’.
*Mrutha sanjeevani (restorer of life)
* Vishalyakarani (remover of arrows)
*Sandhanakarani (restorer of the skin)
*Savarnyakarani (restorer of skin colour) from
Dronagiri Hills.

13. • Provide a bulk of biomass in some tropical forests.
• Some species like Selaginella densa is very resistant to
drought if the roots are not disturbed hence, ecological
balance is maintained.
• Large number of spore formation makes it evergreen trailing
plant used in making wreaths
ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE
.

14. Scientific Classification:
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta
Division Lycopodiophyta
Class Lycopodiopsida
Order Selaginellales
Family Selginellaceae
Genus Selaginella

15. Sub-generic
Classification
Selaginella subg.
Selaginella
Selaginella subg.
Rupestrae
Selaginella subg.
Lepidophyllae
Selaginella subg.
Gymnogynum
Selaginella subg.
Saltatae
Selaginella subg.
Ericetorum
Selaginella subg.
Stachygynandrum

16. SOME SPECIES OF SELAGINELLA
Selaginella apoda Selaginella uncinata Selaginella rupestris

17. Selaginella
densa
Selaginella
kraussiana
Selaginella
lepidophylla
Selaginella
bryopteris

18. Selaginella
erythropus
Selaginella
remotifolia
Selaginella
plana

19. Design Value of Selaginella
in Landscaping

20. • Desirable Plant Features
• Ornamental Foliage
• Plant & Root zone Preference - Tolerance
• Fertile Loamy Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Acidic (low
pH) Soils, Easy to Grow, Disease / Pest Resistant, Moist Soils
• Landscape Uses
• General, Terrarium, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor
Plant
LANSCAPING AND DESIGNING
FEATURES

21. • Thematic Landscaping
• Bioswales / Sunken Garden, Naturalistic Garden
• Usage Hazard - Cons
• Invasive / Potentially Invasive
• Selaginella plants are very diverse in their size and in the
ways they grow.
• Many can be found growing wild in tropical America, Asia,
China, Japan, North America, Mexico, South Africa and
Australia.
• S. martensii has thick, multi-branched stems filled with small
green leaves.

22. • When S. lepidophylla, a native of desert and semi-desert
regions, doesn’t get enough water, the leaves roll into tight
brown balls (a phenomenon known as cespitose) and the
plant becomes totally dormant generally used in xeriscaping.
• Once this Selaginella gets some moisture, the leaves open
up, turn green, and the plant starts to grow again. This is why
the Selaginella lepidophyllagets is called the “Resurrection
Plant.”
• Selaginella, depending upon the variety, may be a creeping,
climbing, or trailing plant. Selaginella kraussiana, which is also
called Spreading Club Moss or Trailing Moss, grows about ½
inch high and has a limitless spread and according to that the
designing is done and species are selected.

23. • During dry weather in its native habitat, its stem curl into a tight
ball, uncurling only when exposed to moisture as we can see in
below gif

24. • They are flattened to the stem. The strobili at the ends of
the stems can be up to 3 or 4 centimeters long. This compact
groundcover plant protects the soil from erosion and can be
used in landscaping for that purpose.
• S. kraussiana has very small bright green leaves that overlap
on trailing jointed stems designed for hanging baskets .
• Selaginella martensii is a small bushy plant that grows about
7-9” tall and just as wide designed for groundcover.

25. • Interiorscaping, as one might surmise, is “landscaping” an
indoor space. Interiorscaping means more than bringing
some green indoors.
• Interiorscaping is the art and science of growing and
arranging plants indoors. It involves the selection, placing
and maintenance of plants to improve and enhance the
appearance of indoor environment.
INTERIORSCAPING

27. • Bioswales are channels designed to concentrate and convey
stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollution.
• Bioswales can also be beneficial in recharging groundwater.
• Bioswales are typically vegetated, mulched, or xeriscaped.
• Bio-retention swale have selaginellas, ferns and other
vegetation as they require shade.
BIOSWALE

28. BIOSWALE

29. • A formal garden set below the main level of the ground
surrounding it.
• Areas prone to dry, arid conditions, such as desert climates,
are popular sites for creating sunken gardens.
• Sunken gardens help conserve or divert water, alleviating
runoff and allowing water to soak into the ground.
SUNKEN GARDENS

30. They also provide adequate cooling for plant roots. Since
water runs down hill, sunken gardens are created to “catch”
available moisture as water runs down the edges and onto the
plants below
Sunken garden (Lewis Ginter
garden),United States
Sunken garden (The Butchart
garden), Canada.

31. • Naturalistic gardens are those in which the gardener
partners with nature, observing and learning from her
teachings.
• They can be low maintenance, but they can also be
exceedingly high maintenance, depending on what the
gardener has in mind.
• To provide a naturalistic view few species are propagated
using division and they cover the ground giving it a natural
look
NATURALISTIC GARDENS

32. Naturalistic garden

33. • As ornamentals these plants hold most promise in xeriscaping, a
water conserving form of landscaping that has gained acceptance in
desert. Examples of the of ferns and Selaginella lepidophylla can be
used.
• Selaginella stauntoniana is another of the late plantsman Don
Jacobs's introductions that thrive throughout the summer, this small
semi-deciduous spikemoss produces 8" tall upright green fronds
about every inch from a short-spreading rhizome. Since it occurs in
the wild on dry rocky cliffs, Selaginella stauntoniana adapts well to
dry woodland gardens.
XERISCAPING

34. Xeriscaping

35. • A terrarium is a glass vessel that contains plants and soil,
creating a miniature ecosystem.
• These low-maintenance indoor gardens are an attractive
way to incorporate plants into either a home or office
setting while providing a beautiful aesthetic and many other
advantages.
TERRARIUM GARDENS

36. Terrarium gardens

37. Cultivation aspects of
Selaginella

38. Among all 700 species a number of Selaginella species are
popular plants for cultivation, mostly tropical species. Some of
the species popularly cultivated and actively available
commercially include:
• S. kraussiana: golden clubmoss
• S. moellendorffii: gemmiferous spikemoss
• S. erythropus: red selaginella or ruby-red spikemoss
• S. uncinata: peacock moss
• S. lepidophylla: resurrection plant
• S. braunii: arborvitae fern

39. • The delicate nature of Selaginella kraussiana and its
prostrate habit make it an ideal companion plant for
cultivation in moist shaded areas.
• If utilized as an outdoor plant, Selaginella kraussiana is best
cultivated in the southern and eastern parts of the country
with higher rainfall and a more temperate frost-free climate.
• Cultivation in zones prone to frost should be avoided unless
the plants are cultivated in protected areas.
• S. kraussiana is a shade-loving plant and is best cultivated in
shady conditions.

40. • The plants will, however, tolerate higher light intensities and
exposure to periods of full sunlight, but the soils must then
be kept wet.
• The species will tolerate slightly dry conditions for short
periods. When exposed to higher light intensities the plants
tend to turn yellowish.
Eg. Selaginella lepidophylla

41. • Selaginella kraussiana is also suitable for cultivation
indoors. This is best done in smaller containers positioned in
areas receiving good, but not direct sunlight. As with
cultivation outdoors, the humus-rich growing medium
should be kept moist at all times.
• Selaginella kraussiana a can be cultivated under various
conditions ranging from saturated clay soils to well-drained
humus-rich soils, due to the weak and shallow root system
of the plants. Available moisture and light levels will
determine the successful cultivation of the species.

42. • Propagation of S. kraussiana is best done by vegetative
means.
• This may be done through layering or the splitting of
established plants. Stems 15 cm or longer may also be laid
on the ground and at intervals lightly covered with soil.
• This is best done during summer, the active growing period
of the plant. Until established the plants should be kept
moist at all times

43. • Light: Indirect light; no direct sunlight
• Water: Aim to keep the potting medium lightly moist at all
times, but don't allow the plant to sit in water. Remember to
always use room-temperature water for your tropical
houseplants.
• Humidity: High -- above 50% relative humidity. If the air is
dry, mist the plant every morning or stand the pot on a
tray of wet pebbles. Keep it in a terrarium to maintain
humidity around it, or in a Wardian case
CULTIVATION REQUIREMENT

44. Wardian Cases

45. Terrariums

46. Pots

47. • Temperature: Average room temperatures (65-75°F/18-
24°C). Try to maintain a steady temperature.Selaginella
doesn't like it too cold or too hot.
• Soil: Peat moss-based potting mix with perlite or
horticultural sand added for good drainage.
• Fertilizer: Feed monthly spring through fall with a balanced
liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
• Propagation: Take stem tip cuttings in spring or summer.
Just give the stems contact with the soil and they'll take root
as they grow, forming a spreading mat.

48. and as the tip cuttings contains male and female spores …here
in this video we can se how they grow up further

49. • Growing animal-safe Selaginella on a (small) commercial
scale is a rewarding challenge.
• It requires years of improving efforts. A few proprietary
tricks should be developed to ensure yields & quality stay
high while straying far from the typical (pesticide-heavy)
commercial production procedures.
• Selaginella propagation cells are custom tailored to provide
each species with it's ideal conditions for growth.
CULTIVATION AT COMMERCIAL
STAGE

50. • Depending on the specific species' grow cell, humidity
ranges anywhere from 65-90% R/H, PAR levels range from
50-200µMol/M²S at plant level, and each features some
form of scheduled air exchange.
• Once established, the little Selaginella plants are removed
from growth cells, placed on our typical plant racks, and
grow-out from there.
• Available plants are very well established (typically 2-5
months old) at the time of shipping. The available plants
were grown on a blend of peat-heavy (acidic) organic potting
soil, and the plants are sold-off before any supplemental
nutrients (fertilizer) are required.

51. • Mother plants (which are propagated from every couple
months) are fed a heavily diluted blend of balanced organic
nutrients every 3-6 months to keep them thriving.
• In a terrarium/vivarium environment, higher levels of
humidity seems to be critically important, along with a fair
amount of airflow. Different species have different terrarium
lighting requirements.

52. • Species like kraussiana, uncinata, erythropus, and kraussiana
all do best when planted as a ground-cover plant. Species
like emmeliana, flabellata, kraussiana ,variegate and plana
have a more ascendant growth pattern which does best
when allowed to grow up & onto a surface.
• Certain species are ultra sensitive to bright lights, while
others will thrive in the brightest conditions.
• Selaginella have a broad range of ideal growing conditions.

53. COMMERCIAL SCALE
PRPDUCTION

54. LARGE VIVARIUMS ARE USED
FOR CULTIVATION