We describe seven new species of Selaginella
subg.
Stachygynandrum (Selaginella
alstonii, Selaginella
blepharodella, Selaginella
crinita, Selaginella
mucronata, Selaginella
mucugensis, Selaginella
saltuicola, and Selaginella
sematophylla) from Brazil and discuss their possible affinities and conservation status. Scanning electron micrographs of stem sections, leaves, and spores are provided to illustrate the new taxa. In Selaginella
alstonii and Selaginella
saltuicola vegetative growth from strobilus tips is reported and discussed. Four of the new species are from the Espinhaço Mountain Range associated with Campos Rupestres (montane savannah/rocky fields) vegetation. Three of these (i.e., Selaginella
blepharodella, Selaginella
crinita, and Selaginella
mucugensis) were collected in the northern part of the range in Chapada Diamantina, state of Bahia, while Selaginella
alstonii is from the southern part of the range in the state of Minas Gerais. Selaginella
mucronata is found in Atlantic Rainforest vegetation in the state of Espírito Santo, whereas Selaginella
saltuicola inhabits Cerrado (tropical savannah) vegetation in the state of Mato Grosso. Selaginella
sematophylla is the most widely distributed of the new species and was collected in Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro states in Campos Rupestres and Atlantic Rainforest vegetation. Selaginella
alstonii occurs in rocky caves, Selaginella
blepharodella, Selaginella
crinita, Selaginella
mucugensis, and Selaginella
sematophylla seem adapted to seasonally dry places, living on sandy or humid soils, Selaginella
mucronata occupies humid, forest understory, and Selaginella
saltuicola is adapted to wet places associated with rocks or logs in waterfalls. Of the seven new species, six are considered local endemics (except for Selaginella
sematophylla) because of their restricted currently known distributions to one or two localities within a single state in Brazil. Additionally, we propose new synonymy for Selaginella
palmiformis (syn. = Selaginella
bahiensis
subsp.
manausensis, ≡ Selaginella
manausensis) and Selaginella
vestiens (syn. = Selaginella
fragillima); the last species is endemic to Brazil, recorded in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais. Finally, based on literature discussed and this study, we conclude that the number of well-documented Brazilian Selaginella species is 61, of which 58 are native and three introduced and naturalized. These statistics are likely to change with further work on Selaginella from Brazil.