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Selaginella willdenowii (Desv.) Baker

Family Name:	Selaginellaceae
Common Name:	Willdenow's Spikemoss, Peacock Fern, Blue Spike Moss, Blue Club Moss, Vine Spike Moss, Paku Selemah, 藤卷柏

Selaginella willdenowii or Willdenow’s Spikemoss was named after a German naturalist – Carl Ludwig von Willdenow. Native to Singapore, this fern ally is easily identified by its iridescent, metallic bluish green fronds, which reveal hues of green and pink when viewed at different angles. Found naturally on the forest floors, its preference for low light and moist conditions makes Willdenow’s Spikemoss a suitable house plant and good groundcover in shady conditions.

Full Shade

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Occasional Misting

Native to Singapore

Indoor Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Ferns and Lycophytes

Creeper

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Ferns & Lycophytes (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Clubmoss & Spikemoss)
Plant Growth Form	Creeper
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Shrubby

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Malesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	Herbaceous, fern-like species with a scrambling growth habit.
Foliage	Iridescent fronds are mostly blue-green with pinkish hues depending on the angle at which they are viewed. They are composed of two leaf types, lateral and median leaves, which are both arranged in 2 rows along the stem. Lateral leaves are ovate to oblong (3-4 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide), while median leaves are even smaller and vary in shape.
Reproductive Parts - non-flowering plant	Cone-like strobili composed of sporophylls (spore-producing structures) are produced at the branch tips. The sporophylls are heart-shaped or egg-shaped to triangular.

Habitat	Occurs on the forest floor and often twines around other plant species.
Etymology	Genus Selaginella is derived from the Latin word selago, which means clubmoss. Species willdenowii is most likely named in honor of Carl Ludwig von Willdenow (1765 - 1812), who was a German naturalist and physician, Director of Berlin Botanical Garden and author of Flora Berolinensis prodromus (1787).

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Container Planting, Flowerbed / Border, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens
Thematic Landscaping	Naturalistic Garden

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Water)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Shade
Water Preference	Lots of Water, Occasional Misting
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Stem Cutting, Division

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Blue, Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny, Scaly

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	282
Species ID	1578
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.