July 10, 1915 



H R T I C i: L T U R E 



35 



Selaginellas 



Tlie gt'iui* Selaginella, often known to gardeners as 

 Lycopodium, to which it is closely allied, is a very 

 extensive one containing as it does over three hundred 

 species. Many of these are important garden plants; 

 several species being especially valuable for carpeting 

 ihe surface of the soil where large plants, such as palms, 

 are planted out, or for growing under the benches, thus 

 providing a beautiful mat of green. Others are well 

 adapted for growing as specimen plants in pots, pans, 

 or hanging baskets. Their range is very extensive some 

 of them being hardy, but the majority require green- 

 house conditions and as by far the largest number of 

 them are found in the tropics, the warm house is the 

 place where they are most in evidence. 



The Selaginellas are of faiily easy culture, requiring 

 to be grown under moderately moist conditions in a 

 liglit. rich soil, preferably containing a pro])ortion of 

 peat. In general those that are suitable for growing in 

 pans require to be propagated afresh every year if the 

 best results are to be obtained. The cuttings, which 

 should lie two or three inches in length, may be taken 

 in February or March, inserted in the pans in which 

 they are to remain, and kept close and shaded until they 

 are rooted. In making up a hanging basket of Selagin- 

 ella it is better to start the cuttings in a pan and obtain 

 strong plants before transferring them to the basket. 

 The kinds that are suitable for carpeting will usually 

 take care of themselves once they are established, but 

 it may be necessary at intervals to replant if they show 

 signs of becoming brown and worn out. 



The following are amongst the best of the garden 

 Selaginellas. 



iS'. uncinata. This plant is usually known in the 

 trade as S. caesia; it is perhajis the best of them all 

 for a basket plant. The long graceful shoots are pro- 

 duced in great abundance and tlie coloring of the leaves 

 is of the most exquisite character, changing from a 

 metallic bluish green to a beautiful copper color. It 

 may be grown under either cool or warm house treat- 

 ment, but it does best under tropical conditions. The 

 jihotograph shows a plant growing in the Brooklyn 

 Botanic Garden in a 12 inch basket; it is over .3 feet 

 in length and almost 2 feet in diameter. 



^'. Kraussiana is another species suitable for bask- 

 ets, alihough this does not produce shoots anywhere 

 near the length of the preceding. It is of rather com- 

 pact growth and is of a beautiful dark gTeen color. 

 This is the plant so valuable and so often used for 

 carpeting under benches. It does well under cool house 

 conditions. 



S. Marteiisii and its varieties are all good carpeting 

 plants for the cool house. It is a vigorous grower, 

 rapidly covering the positions assigned to it. -V variety 

 having silvery variegation is particularly woitb growing. 



S. cuspidata is a tropical species of tufted habit. 

 The leaves are pale green in color, the lower ones having 

 silvery edges. This also is an excellent carpeting plant. 



S. Emvieliana is a tropical species of more or less 

 upright habit with featliery fern like gr-owths which 

 arc very giaeefui. Unfortunately it is somewhat slow 

 growing, l)ul the appearance nl' a well grown pan amply 

 compensates for the extra care necessary to obtain good 

 specimens. The variety, known as S. Emmeliana aurea, 

 having leaves of a golclen yellow, is a desirable variety. 



.9. cauhsccns known in the trade as S. amoeiia is an- 

 other species liaving erect stems, which are from 6 to 

 12 inches long. The coloring is bright green and the 



Sel.vginei.i.a t>-ci\-at.\, syx. S. caesia. 



plant is distinctly fern like. It should be grown under 

 stove conditions. 



>'. grandis is perhaps the finest of the erect growing 

 Selaginellas. It produces stems, which under good con- 

 ditions attain a height of 2 feet, covered with bright 

 green leaves. To have this plant to best advantage it is 

 necessary to grow it in a wardian case in a tropical 

 house, covering the surface with living sphagnum. 



.9. ^YildeHOvii, which often goes under the trade name 

 of .S'. caesia arhorea, is a climbing species of great merit. 

 If planted out in a warm house and given liberal treat- 

 ment it will often uud<e stems of 20 feet or more in 

 length. The leaves of this species have the metallic 

 sheen wliich is so attractive, varying in color fi-"''! lilu- 

 ish green to copper. 



S. lepidoiihijlln is the well known ''Hesuneruou 

 Plant" often obtainable in a dry state in stores that 

 specialize in novelties. It is not of jiarticularly hand- 

 some appearance, but is worth growing as a curiosity. 



This does not by any means exhaust the list of 

 Selaginellas which are valuable for greenhouse decora- 

 tion. There are many other species and varieties of 

 merit, and it is to be hoped that in tlie future greater 

 interest will be taken in this genus of elegant and at- 

 tractive plants. 



fVl (p(v/C-^>^--AAU , P / 



Brooklyn Bolariic Garden. 



