Selaginella uncinata grows vigorously, its leaves so verdant they seem about to drip

The early-summer plum rain season is the most enchanting time of year for Selaginella uncinata, and the phrase "verdant to the point of dripping" seems to have been designed especially for it.

Its "verdure" is unique. Is there any other plant in the botanical world with such captivating leaf color? I do not know.

[ Selaginella uncinata ] Selaginellaceae >> Selaginella

The leaf color of Selaginella uncinata is so dreamlike that it is hard to believe. Not only people, but even my camera cannot believe it.

Whenever I point my lens at Selaginella uncinata, the camera's white balance function goes haywire, insisting on twisting the leaf color of Selaginella uncinata until it is indistinguishable from the commonplace before it will relent. Automatic white balance is hopeless, yet manual adjustment is also unsatisfactory, and even with Photoshop wizardry at home it is very hard to restore the true appearance of Selaginella uncinata.

Selaginella uncinata looks its best during the plum rain season, when its verdure is "three-dimensional" and full of variation.

The main stems are fresh tender green without blue; the leaves on the side branches are emerald green, with very high brightness and saturation; the newly grown small leaves at the tips of the branches have the highest color brightness, appearing pale yellow.

The leaves of Selaginella uncinata are especially good at capturing and reflecting light from the environment, sparkling like gemstones, and the moisture of the plum rain season falling on its leaves makes its radiance even stronger.

Besides the climate of the plum rain season, the beauty of Selaginella uncinata is closely related to the environment that nurtures it.

Selaginella uncinata is like jade and jewelry displayed in a dim museum exhibition hall. If not for the dense forest canopy above and the overall dim environment, how could its brilliance stand out? Selaginella uncinata is now also sold in flower markets, but it never quite has the flavor of its wild habitat.

By midsummer, Selaginella uncinata has spread across the ground, growing gratifyingly well, but the layering of its leaf color is somewhat shallower. In winter Selaginella uncinata does not completely die back, but with the dry weather it is not as beautiful as in early summer when it is fresh and dewy.

Newly sprouted Selaginella uncinata in early spring

In Hangzhou and the surrounding mountains, Selaginella uncinata is very common. If you do not want to climb mountains, there are also quite a few in the Hundred Herbs Garden of the Hangzhou Botanical Garden.

The name Selaginella uncinata is lovely too! Cuiyun... so beautiful.

Author: Jiang Mouren

Images: Jiang Mouren

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