Spikemosses are fern allies. Low, creeping, moss-like plants with branching stems, few fine roots, small narrow-like leaves arranged in multiple spiral rows, and globular spore-producing structures (sporangia) occurring in the leaf axils and within poorly-defined cones (strobili) at the top of the plant; 
Leaves simple, stalkless, less than 5 mm long, spreading or appressed against the stem, with a central unbranched vein. Leaves on some species bristle-tipped and/or with hairs on the edges. 
Stems often lie flat on the ground, especially when sterile; fertile stems erect in some species. Plants deciduous or evergreen, forming mats.
Plants have two sizes of spores (both minute to the naked eye): large megaspores that are usually yellowish or white with a thick sculptured wall, and minute microspores that are mostly red or yellow with small spines. A single spore-forming structure usually produces only 4 large spores, or numerous small ones.

Spores develop in leaf axils July - October

Evergreen mosslike fern ally that forms dense mats on exposed or partly-shaded rocks and shallow soil over rock.
Leaves bristle-tipped, linear-lanceolate, densely crowded, upright, spiralling and pressed tight to the stem. Leaves 2.5-4 mm long, to 0.6 mm wide, grooved on backs. Leaf edges toothless and finely hairy. Overlapping leaves form a herringbone pattern, arranged along stem in 4-6 rows. Leaves grey-green with age or drying (often revive when moisture becomes available).
Spore-bearing structures (sporangia) rounded, yellowish to whitish, in the axils of leaves (these usually wider than other leaves), unstalked; usually producing either 4 (sometimes only 1-2) large yellow or white megaspores or many tiny red or yellow microspores.
Stems horizontal, much branching and rooting.

tn-selaginella-rupestris-big-bluff-nb-30-june-2018-4696-jim-goltz

TN Selaginella rupestris Big Bluff NB 30 June 2018 4696 Jim Goltz

Selaginella rupestris Big Bluff NB 30 June 2018 Jim Goltz 4696

Selaginella rupestris Big Bluff NB 30 June 2018 Jim Goltz 4726

Selaginella rupestris_Britton and Brown

Selaginella rupestris

Calcium rich bogs, fens, moist forests, seepy calcium-rich areas, shores, wet rocky sites

Delicate moss-like plant, branching, forming small mats. Inconspicuous plant, may be found buried in mosses. Best identified by the sporangia, with their large megaspores.
Leaves all alike, thin, flat, lance-shaped, pointed at tips but without bristles, 2-4 mm long and 1 mm wide, upright to spreading in multiple spiral rows, with sparse hairs along edges. Sterile stems creeping, branched, evergreen or nearly so, 2-5 cm long.
Fertile stems often reddish-purple to yellowish, deciduous, upright, unbranched, 6-10 cm tall, with a 2-4 cm long cylindrical cone at tip, and spore-producing structures (sporangia) in the axils of leaves on the cones. Leaves on cones slightly longer and with more hairs along edges than those on sterile stems. Spores either large yellowish-white (megaspores) or tiny (microspores).

Selaginellaceae

Spikemoss Family