Selaginella leucobryoides

Mojave spike-moss

Family: Selaginellaceae · Type: Spikemoss · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Mojave spike-moss is a California native spikemoss ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the Desert Mountains in limestone rock bases, cracks, and pinyon-juniper woodland at elevations of 600 to 2,300 meters. A distinctive green plant with a white cast that ages to tan, it forms delicate cushion-like tufts that become fragile when dry. Growing in small, compact clusters with stems 1.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, the spike-moss has lanceolate leaves with short, rigid awns. Its leaves are narrow, measuring 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters wide, with a glabrous base that decurves along the stem. The plant produces compact cones 4 to 15 millimeters in length, adding to its intricate botanical structure.

Habitat: Base of rocks, cracks, generally limestone, amid scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland

Elevation: 600-2300 m

Bioregions: DMtns

California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.