Selaginella aculeatifolia sp. nov. (Selaginellaceae–Lycopodiophyta) from the foothills of Cerro Neblina, Venezuela

In this paper, I describe Selaginella aculeatifolia Valdespino, a new species (probably a local endemic) from lowland forests in the foothills of Cerro de la Neblina in Venezuela, and compare it with morphologically close taxa, provide SEM of stem, leaves and spores, and discuss its conservation status. In addition, I provide a key to species in the Selaginella deltoides group. This species is characterized by its mat‐forming, creeping growth habit, having the upper surface of the lateral leaves hispidulous with short hairs or tooth‐like projections usually found submarginally, marginally and distally near the apices along the basiscopic halves of the laminae, and with conspicuous, straw‐colored midribs, as well as median leaves with conspicuously hyaline margins. These characters indicate an alliance of Selaginella aculeatifolia with a group of South American species: S. deltoides A. Braun, S. brevifolia Baker, and S. sandwithii Alston, here informally referred to as the ‘ Selaginella deltoides group’.