Selaginella watsonii
Watson's spike moss
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Selaginellaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Selaginella watsonii (Watson's spike moss) is a native California herb in the Selaginellaceae family, recognized by highest elevation range, shaggy cushion growth form with braided appearance.
Watson's spike moss is a native spikemoss found in the Klamath Ranges, Trinity Alps, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada East, White and Inyo Mountains, and northern Desert Mountains at elevations of 1,350 to 4,100 meters in open rocky sites, conifer forest, and alpine habitats. Growing in shaggy, dense cushions with a robust, braided appearance, this spikemoss transforms from green to orange-tan and eventually gray. Its stems feature lance-linear to oblong leaves 1.5 to 4 millimeters long, with distinctive thickened leaf tips and short rigid awns. The plant forms compact, intricate mats with closely positioned branches that nearly obscure the stem internodes. Producing small cones 5 to 35 millimeters long, Watson's spike moss is a resilient high-elevation botanical adaptation well-suited to rocky, exposed mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key features are highest elevation range, shaggy cushion growth form with braided appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open rocky sites, conifer forest, alpine
Elevation: 1350-4100 m
California counties: Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Alpine, Fresno, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Los Angeles, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Plumas
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Utah
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 watsonii native to California?
Yes. Selaginella watsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Selaginella watsonii grow?
Selaginella watsonii occurs in Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Alpine, Fresno, Kern and other counties, at elevations of 1350-4100 m.
What plant family does Selaginella watsonii belong to?
Selaginella watsonii is in the Selaginellaceae family, genus Selaginella.
What habitat does Selaginella watsonii grow in?
Selaginella watsonii grows in Open rocky sites, conifer forest, alpine.
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.