Selaginella likabalika Aran & Roy sp. nov: a new species from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

A new species of Selaginella i.e., Selaginella likabalika is described in the present study. The species was collected from Likabali, under the Lower Siang district and Karsingsa, under the Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh. The new species can be easily confused to be mosses due to their similar appearance and habitat resemblance. The species is minute, prostrate and generally covers the ground like a carpet. The morphology of the new species is close to Selaginella armata, S. apoda, S. confusa and S. flacca but can be differentiated by leaf features.

Taxonomic significance of megaspores in some species of Selaginella from Arunachal Pradesh in India

“…In India, there is a distribution of about 61 species of the genus (Aran & Roy, 2022; Aran & Roy, 2023a, 2023b; Fraser‐Jenkins et al, 2016; Singh et al, 2020). Most of the previous observation of megaspores of the genus was based on light microscopic study (Dixit, 1983; Dixit, 1992; Panigrahi & Dixit, 1967).…”

“…The state is situated in the transitional zone between the Eastern Himalaya and Indo‐Burmese biodiversity hotspots, the palearctic and oriental biogeographic region, and Himalaya and peninsular India (Kamei et al, 2012; Sinha et al, 2018). Arunachal Pradesh has a report of 26 species of Selaginella (Aran & Roy, 2022; Aran & Roy, 2023a, 2023b; Soni et al, 2021). The present study provides comprehensive information on the megaspore morphology of some species of Selaginella from Arunachal Pradesh and the significance of megaspore features in the field of systematic of the genus.…”