Selaginella: The Resurrection Plant Explained

Selaginella, a genus of vascular plants belonging to the division Lycopodiophyta, possesses a unique characteristic that earns it the common name 'Resurrection plant'. This name highlights its exceptional ability to survive extreme dehydration.

Understanding the Resurrection Plant Trait

The 'Resurrection plant' moniker is specifically due to Selaginella species' remarkable resilience in the face of severe water scarcity. These plants can dry out almost completely, appearing dead, but upon the return of moisture, they can rehydrate and resume normal physiological processes, effectively 'resurrecting' themselves.

Key aspects of this adaptation include:

• Tolerance to Desiccation: Specialized cells and metabolic pathways allow Selaginella to withstand the loss of nearly all its cellular water.
• Rapid Rehydration: Upon exposure to water, the plant quickly absorbs it, reviving its tissues and restarting photosynthesis and respiration.
• Survival Mechanism: This ability is a crucial survival strategy in arid or seasonally dry environments where water availability is unpredictable.

Comparing Selaginella to Other Plant Groups

While Selaginella shares some similarities with other groups, its 'Resurrection plant' identity is distinct:

• Club Moss: Although Selaginella is sometimes broadly grouped with or compared to true club mosses (like Lycopodium) due to its ancient lineage and growth habit (often low-growing and branching), the term 'club moss' doesn't capture its most notable feature.
• Peat Moss: Peat moss refers to plants of the genus Sphagnum, which are very different bryophytes (mosses) known for their water-retentive qualities and role in forming peat bogs.
• Horsetail: Horsetails belong to the genus Equisetum and are characterized by jointed stems, whorled branches, and spore-bearing structures called strobili, differing significantly from Selaginella.

Therefore, the most descriptive common name among the options, highlighting a key biological feature of Selaginella, is 'Resurrection plant'.