Desert Mossfern [Selaginella eremophila Maxon.]
Listing CNPS List 2 R-E-D Code 2-2-1
State/Federal. Status -- None SELAGINELLACEAE May-Jul.
Global Rank G4 State Rank S2S3
Distribution: San Diego County, Riverside County, Imperial County; Arizona; New Mexico; Texas; Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: Desert Mossfern grows in rocky terrain amid Sonoran desert scrub.
Known Sites: This spike-moss is locally common in Sentenac Canyon. It was also seen in rocks on Pinyon Mountain and at Mountain Palm Springs. Herbarium specimens examined for San Diego County are from Hellhole Canyon, Vallecito Station, Oriflamme Creek, and Borrego Palm Canyon; also in Sonora, Mexico and on the Cabeza Prieta Game Preserve in Yuma County, Arizona.
Eleven voucher specimens from Baja California are deposited at the herbarium of the San Diego Natural History Museum; south to 28 45' North where collected by Moran (SD 60053) at El Terminal 16 miles south of Los Angeles Bay.
Status: Desert Mossfern is presumed stable on the southern deserts. Most of its habitat is presently undeveloped. This species is likely substantially undercollected in the Anza-Borrego Desert.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.