Back

Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring

Family Name:	Selaginellaceae
Synonyms:	Lycopodium uncinatum Desv., Lycopodioides uncinata (Desv.) Kuntze
Common Name:	Peacock Moss, Blue Spike Moss, Rainbow Moss, 翠云草

Selaginella uncinata or Peacock Moss is a scrawling herb that can grow more than 100 cm long. Leaves are papery, green to metallic blue-green coloured. It produces two sets of foliage, the leaves along the sides of the main stem are larger than the paired, overlapping leaves on the main stem. The strobilus is produced singly at the tip of the branch.

Full Shade

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Occasional Misting

Ornamental Leaves

Ferns and Lycophytes

Herbaceous Plant

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Ferns & Lycophytes (Non-Seed Vascular Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Central & South China to Vietnam
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Mountain, Primary Rainforest, Riverine)
Preferred Climate Zone	Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal, Tropical, Temperate

Local Conservation Status

Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a scrawling herb that grows between 50 - 100 cm or more. It can also be found hanging, climbing or as an epiphyte on rocky walls.
Foliage	Leaves are papery, white-margined, green to metallic blue-green coloured. It has two sets of foliage, the larger leaves along the sides of the main stem and smaller pairs of leaves on the main stem. The larger leaves are broadly elliptic to round, 3 - 4 mm long and 2 - 3 mm wide. The smaller leaves are asymmetrical, oval-shaped, overlapping one another.
Reproductive Parts - non-flowering plant	The spore-bearing structure known as a strobilus is compact, ovate-triangular shaped, produced singly at the tip of the branch, measuring 5 - 25 mm long by 2.5 - 4 mm wide.

Habitat	Occurs in primary or old secondary forest, hill slopes, river margins or swamps.
Cultivation	It thrives in shaded and moist conditions, tend to be intolerable to intense light and drought. To maintain the color of the foliage, a bright location away from direct light is preferred.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Shade, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Occasional Misting
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Division, Spore

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green, Green - Bluish Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green - Bluish Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Sessile
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Orbicular / Round, Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Parallel
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute, Mucronate
Foliar Base	Cordate, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s)	Underground (Rhizome)

References

References	Setyawan, A.D. (2014). Short Communication: A new record of naturalised Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring (Selaginellaceae) from Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 15(2): 261-268. Zhang, X., Nooteboom, H.P. & Kato, M. (2013). Selaginellaceae. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H., & Hong, D.Y. (eds) Flora of China, vol. 2-3, pp. 37 - 66. Beijing: Science Press; St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.

References

Setyawan, A.D. (2014). Short Communication: A new record of naturalised Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring (Selaginellaceae) from Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 15(2): 261-268.

Zhang, X., Nooteboom, H.P. & Kato, M. (2013). Selaginellaceae. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H., & Hong, D.Y. (eds) Flora of China, vol. 2-3, pp. 37 - 66. Beijing: Science Press; St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	34269
Species ID	8682
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.