Where is Selaginella uncinata mainly distributed? A detailed explanation of its growth habits

Alternative names of Selaginella uncinata

Dragon whisker, blue grass, blue ground cypress, green velvet grass, stretching-foot grass, rotten-skin snake

Morphological characteristics of Selaginella uncinata

Selaginella uncinata is a medium-sized creeping fern. The main stem creeps along the ground, about 1m long, with sparsely borne branches. Adventitious roots grow at the nodes, and the leaves are ovate, borne sparsely in two rows. It branches repeatedly. The vegetative leaves are dimorphic, in two rows each on the dorsal and ventral sides; the ventral leaves are long-ovate, and the dorsal leaves are oblong, entire, spreading flat to both sides. The strobili are four-angled, and the sporophylls are ovate-triangular, arranged in four rows in an imbricate pattern.

Growth habits of Selaginella uncinata

It grows under valley forests at an altitude of 40-1000m, in soil rich in humus or among shady, damp weeds by streams, as well as in rock caves, on wet stones, or in stone crevices. It prefers a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. When growing it in pots, pay attention to the drainage of the potting soil and avoid long-term direct sunlight.

Main value of Selaginella uncinata

Ornamental: Selaginella uncinata has finely dense fronds and gives off a sapphire-like luster, extraordinary and unusual; it can accent a desk or low table and is very lovely. Its plant form is peculiar, its fronds resemble cloud patterns, it is verdant in all four seasons, and it has a blue-green fluorescence, elegant and beautiful. It is a small foliage plant, and potted plants are suitable for display on desks, windowsills, and similar places.

Pot cover: Because the stems and branches of Selaginella uncinata are creeping, it is an ideal material for covering the surface of orchid pots.

Medicinal use: Functions and indications: clearing heat and promoting diuresis, stopping bleeding, and relieving cough. Used for acute icteric infectious hepatitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, dysentery, nephritic edema, urinary tract infection, rheumatic joint pain, and hemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis; externally used to treat boils, burns and scalds, traumatic bleeding, and bruises.