Selaginella - A Heterosporous Genus of Lycophytes

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Vegetative Characters: Leaves have ligules and are typically arranged in four rows along the stem. Two rows have short leaves and the other two with long. Shoot is flattened with distinct ventral and dorsal sides.

Reproductive Characters: Heterosporous with endosporic gametophytes (the gametophytes grow only within the spore walls). Spores are borne on sporophylls which are always arranged into strobili. Typically megasporophylls and microsporophylls are found together in the same strobius.

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