Selaginella wightii Hieron, Hedwigia 39: 319 (1900) (syn: Bryodesma wightii (Hieron.) Soják; Selaginella wightii var. venusta Hieron.);
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S. India, Sri Lanka as per POWO;
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Lithophytic herbs with creeping, much branched stem, 20-30 x 0.10-0.15 cm; greenish during wet season and silvery or greyish-white and curled when dry. Leaves isomorphic throughout, 2-2.5 x 0.1 mm, linear, fimbriate, stiff, light greenish to silvery. Strobili 4-6 x 1-1.2 mm, cylindrical, sporophylls isomorphic, lanceolate, ciliate. Microspores 40-45 x 40 mm. Megaspores 300-350 x 400 mm. orange brown, reticulate.
Growing on rocks in grasslands and dry deciduous forests
(Attributions- K. P. Rajesh from India Biodiversity Portal)
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AKJAN03 Please help in identifying this Selaginella sp. : 4 posts by 2 authors. No images seen now.

It grows on exposed rocky slopes in full sun where there is no soil.
From Siddarabetta, near Bangalore.
It was completely dry when I collected a small piece.
After bringing it home, i immersed it in water and in three hours it seems to have revived completely.

It is probably S. wightii – but I have to confess I never yet troubled to learn the difference between S. wightii and S. indica (longipila) both of which are in S. India – could you just check out the difference in case it is indica? It can only be one of those two very similar species.


 

 


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References:
POWO  Selaginella wightii Hieron a New record for India (1996)  Tropicos  India Biodiversity Portal  Flora of Eastern Karnataka, Volume 2 By N. P. Singh (1988)