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Selaginella lepidophylla

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A nice looking plant by pedro Celi.


Wild dormant plant from north of Mexico City.


Mexican habitat, 100 kilometres north of Mexico City.

Author: Antoine Frédéric Spring 1840
Family:  Selaginellaceae 
Habitat:   Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, New Mexico, Texas; USA
Soil:   Mix
Water:   Medium
Sun:   Maximum
Thickness:  20 centimetres
Height:  5 centimetres
Flower:   No
Propagate:   Spores
Names:    Resurrection Plant, Rose of Jericho, Siempre Viva, Flor de Piedra, Doradilla, Flower of rock, stone Flower, Magóra (tarahumara), Much-k´ok, Siempreviva
Synonyms:  Lycopodium lepidophyllum Hook. & Grev. 1830.
Selaginella lepdophylla,
Baker 1885.
Lycopodium lepidophyllum
Hook. ET Grev.
Lycopodium nidiforme, Sessé & Moc.
Lycopodioides lepidophylla, Kuntze.

This member of the Selaginellaceae  family is found in the Middle East and the Central Americas. It grows in well-drained soil with a little water from time to time. Lots of sun. It will grow to 20 centimetres in diameter when it opens. It won't flower; it's a fern. I found mine in Pachuca, Mexico in 2003.

Distribution: Israel, Jordan, W-Texas, S-New Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, Mexico State, Queretaro, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chiapas), Nicaragua.

Growing this plant from a dry plant fount at a florist can cause problems. The plants are generally more dry than they can stand, and their roots are removed. They still pen, but remain dead.
If you are lucky to find a plant that still have some remaining living tissue in the centre, it can be done. Cut the plant into single leaves, remove the dead tissue. Place the green parts on moist sphagnum, treat with fungicide and place light and warm. New small plants will grow from the leave cuttings, but be aware: It is a real slow growing plant!