Interested in the Tetragonostachys? While often seen as being a moss or a moss-like plant the members of this subgenus of Selaginella can be found mostly west of the Mississippi River in the USA. In my study of them I have developed PDF keys that are designed for a relatively quick ID of the species in the field. Minimal instruments needed to aid in the identification process are a powerful hand lens and a ruler showing millimeters. With many just a casual observation may be enough to identify the species that can be found within any particular state as their gross morphological characteristics are distinct to each species. Use the link below to directly access my introductionary page with links to the available PDF keys. To PDF Keys Links

`The genus Selaginella is comprised of three basic subgroups, identified as subgenuses. These are Selaginella, Stachygynandrum, and Tetragonostachys. The subgenus Selaginella consists of one native species, S. selaginoides, the subgenus Stachygynandrum of seven native species, and the subgenus Tetragonostachys of 26 natives and 1 hybrid native. Texas has three species of the Stachygynandrum and nine species, maybe ten, of the Tetragonostachys. Most of the species occur in the western portion of Texas with one, S. apoda, found in eastern Texas. Most Selaginellas, and Lycopodiums too, that are grown are from tropical areas and are not native North American species. Not all that much is known about the habitats of our native species. Growing either, especially the native Lycopodiums, can be quite challenging if you approach them from the point of view that they can be treated like any angiospermous plant, which, of course, they are not. Thus my interest in sharing my experiences in their cultivation.

Here is my latest (March 14, 2012) journals on growing tips that can be used to grow the moss like native Selaginella species such as S. rupestris which is common in the eastern USA. There are 3 additional pages but GW apparently changes the coding on the links so here are the links that you will have to copy and insert into your browser address window. Page 2 http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184/jwcimage/Selaginella/Culture/CultureP2.jpg Page 3 http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184/jwcimage/Selaginella/Culture/CultureP3.jpg Page 4 http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184/jwcimage/Selaginella/Culture/CultureP4.jpg

Gary, Tropical species are probably not all that much different than the temperate species in ease of propagation. However they are in two different sections: most temperate species in Tetragonostachys and almost all tropical species in Stachygynandrum. The basic difference is that the "Tetras" can handle drought and have leaves that spiral around the stem while the "Stachy" really need moisture and humidity to do well and have flat stems with leaves ranked along the stem edges. If well grown both types can prove to be spreading. While I am currently growing one species of Stachygynandrum native to North America, S. apoda, outside with the Tetragonostachys species, I would not expect most os the Stachygytnandrum species to do well outside in North America except in areas where humidity is constant snd sufficient to allow growth. Some are naturalized in the southeast USA with S. kraussiana surviving as dumped plants in two reported locations in northern California. I believe there are only 2 species of the Tetragonostachys in Florida and both are probably endangered to nearly extinct. I would hope an effort to master cultivation of these species is being undertaken and if not should be. If you examine the images the plant subject D has rhizoids evident along the stem. If the propgation is healthy and has several of these rhizoids evident then if the media is acceptable the plants should root readily. I guess I need to find the time to work up some reports on the Stachygynandrum species I am growing beside what I have already posted at Photobucket. Here is a link that might be useful: To access the 3 Stachygynandrum species use the menu on the left side under Albums