spike moss
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of primitive vascular plant: "Spike moss" refers to any of numerous small, herbaceous plants belonging to the genus Selaginella. They are fern allies, meaning they reproduce via spores like ferns but are not true ferns. They are characterized by their small, scale-like leaves and often creeping or mat-forming growth habit.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The forest floor was carpeted with a delicate spike moss.
- Botanists study spike moss to understand early plant evolution.
- Some species of spike moss are popular in terrariums due to their attractive foliage.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical contexts: The term is used precisely to distinguish plants in the genus from true mosses and true ferns. They are notable for their heterospory (producing two different types of spores).
- The spike moss exhibited clear heterospory, a key evolutionary development.
Variants and Related Words
- Selaginella (n): The scientific genus name for spike moss.
- Selaginella lepidophylla is known as the resurrection plant.
- Lycophyte (n): The broader plant division (Lycopodiophyta) to which spike mosses belong, which also includes clubmosses and quillworts.
- Spike mosses are a type of lycophyte.
Synonyms
- Selaginella (n): The direct scientific synonym.
- Fern ally (n): A descriptive term highlighting its reproductive similarity to, but taxonomic difference from, ferns.
Related Phrases
- Resurrection plant: A common name for specific species of spike moss (e.g., ) that can survive extreme desiccation and appear to "come back to life" when watered.
- The dried-up resurrection plant, a type of spike moss, unfurled within hours of being placed in water.
Noun
-
any of numerous fern allies of the genus Selaginella
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