First records of Selaginella kraussiana and Selaginella subcordata from Senegal (Selaginellaceae)

Abstract

The monogeneric family Selaginellaceae is made up of about 700 species distributed throughout the world, but the most concentrated part is in tropical and subtropical areas. According to the most recent infrageneric classification of the genus Selaginella, six or seven subgenera can be recognised and perhaps 700 species. The genus is monophyletic, cosmopolitan, characterised by the presence of rhizophores, ligulated leaves and has a reniform adaxial sporangia with two type of spores (heterospory).The records of two species are reported, that is S. kraussiana (Kunze) A.Braun and S. subcordata A.Braun ex Kuhn, which are new for the state of Senegal. Ecological traits, especially related to the habitat and altitude-elevation distribution, are also described for these species. Both species were collected in the south of Senegal, more precisely in the region of Kédougou for S. Kraussiana and in the regions of Kédougou, Tambacounda and Ziguinchor for S. subcordata.

Keywords

• Pteridophytes
• Kédougou
• Ziguinchor
• distribution