Selaginella bifida
Encyclopedia
Selaginella bifida is a lycophyte native to Rodrigues Island in the Mascarene Islands
. It was found firstly in 1991 on the Mont Limon at 20–150 m high and was confused with S. rodrigueziana Baker because of their strong phenotypical homologies. However, fastidious studies in 2009 highlight ciliate lateral leaf margins on several specimens and bifid microsporophyll apices during the emergence of reproductive parts, which differentiate a new taxon.
Mascarene Islands
The Mascarene Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar comprising Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Cargados Carajos shoals, plus the former islands of the Saya de Malha, Nazareth and Soudan banks...
. It was found firstly in 1991 on the Mont Limon at 20–150 m high and was confused with S. rodrigueziana Baker because of their strong phenotypical homologies. However, fastidious studies in 2009 highlight ciliate lateral leaf margins on several specimens and bifid microsporophyll apices during the emergence of reproductive parts, which differentiate a new taxon.