ALIEN FERNS IN HAWAI'I

Selaginella stellata  Spring (syn. S. galeottii Spring) on 13 April 1969, was found growing in solid stands along the trail sides and in the understory at 'Akaka Falls State Park along the Hamakua Coast of Hawai'i which is forested mostly by alien species (Lehto & Lehto 16429, RSA). The species is native to southern Mexico and Central America. There is no clue as to how it arrived in the Islands and I have found no record that it is cultivated in Hawai'i. The plants have frond-like, gracefully arching branches that bear numerous ascending strobili 1-2 cm long . The stems are jointed along their length, and only the basal 1/3 of the main stem bears rhizophores (Figure 2). The stems fragment readily at the joints, disarticulating to produce fragments that may function in vegetative propagation. Selaginella stellata occurs in large numbers in this state park.