Selaginella wallacei
Wallace moss fern
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Family: Selaginellaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Selaginella wallacei (Wallace moss fern) is a native California herb in the Selaginellaceae family, recognized by thickened leaf tips around abaxial groove, variable growth form.
Wallace moss fern is a California native spikemoss found in northwestern California, the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, northern Sierra Nevada, and northern San Francisco Bay region in rocky outcrops and habitats ranging from chaparral to mixed-evergreen forest at elevations below 1,820 meters. This distinctive spikemoss forms mat-like colonies in sunny areas and elongate-creeping formations in shade, with plants transitioning from green to tan and eventually gray. Growing with delicate leaves 1.4 to 2.5 millimeters long, the plant displays lanceolate leaves that maintain a different color from its stem and feature tiny rigid awns at their tips. Its leaves are particularly notable for having thickened tips on sterile stems, creating a distinctive textural element. In shaded conditions, the plant develops elongate stems with internodes often exceeding 7 millimeters, creating intricate ground-covering formations.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key feature is thickened leaf tips around abaxial groove, variable growth form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky outcrops, open to shady, dry to moist sites, chaparral to mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: < 1820 m
California counties: Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas, Siskiyou, Sierra, Sonoma, Placer, Del Norte, El Dorado, Lake, Nevada, Shasta, Solano, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
How to tell it apart
vs Cardionema: Selaginella has overlapping scales spiraling up the stem; Cardionema has paired leaves at intervals.; vs Lycopodium: Selaginella stems feel soft and flexible; Lycopodium stems are firmer and the leaves radiate out in all directions.; vs Polytrichum: Selaginella has square-sided cones and scales; moss capsules sit atop hairlike stalks.; vs Galium: Selaginella has tiny overlapping scales; Galium has narrow leaves in distinct whorls around square stems.; vs Brachythecium: Selaginella has square cones and spiraling scales; moss shoots are feathery with capsules on stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Selaginella wallacei native to California?
Yes. Selaginella wallacei is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Selaginella wallacei grow?
Selaginella wallacei occurs in Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of < 1820 m.
What plant family does Selaginella wallacei belong to?
Selaginella wallacei is in the Selaginellaceae family, genus Selaginella.
What habitat does Selaginella wallacei grow in?
Selaginella wallacei grows in Rocky outcrops, open to shady, dry to moist sites, chaparral to mixed-evergreen forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.