A New Selaginella (Selaginellaceae) from Queretaro and Veracruz, Mexico

Mexico with its ca. 76 species of Selaginella has the third highest number of species of any country in the New World. During the course of my preliminary studies aimed to prepare the treatment of the family Selaginellaceae for the Pteridoflora of Mexico Project (Mikel, Smith, Palacios-Rios, and collaborators, in prep.), a new species was uncovered among a loan of Selaginella specimens from Veracruz sent to me by M. en C. Monica Palacios-Rios (XAL). Later, Biol. Horalia Diaz Barriga (IEB) provided me with additional material of the new species from Queretaro. Since this novelty is to be included by Biol. Diaz Barriga (pers. comm.) in her treatment of the genus Selaginella for Flora del Bajfo, a formal description is required, which I provide below. Further additions to Mexican Selaginella are foreseen as ongoing studies by the author continue.