Lycopodioides compta (Handel-Mazzetti) H. S. Kung; L. vaginata (Spring) Kuntze; Selaginella bomiensis Ching & S. K. Wu; S. compta Handel-Mazzetti; S. schottmuelleri Warburg ["Schottmülleri"]; S. shensiensis Christ, p.p.; S. smithii O. C. Schmidt; S. thomsonii Hieronymus; S. xishuiensis G. Q. Gou & P. S. Wang.

Plants terrestrial or epilithic, evergreen or seasonally green, creeping, 5-10 cm, fertile stems erect. Rhizophores restricted to lower part of erect fertile branches or at intervals throughout length of creeping stem and branches, borne on ventral side in axils of branches. Main stems branched throughout, 0.2-0.4 mm in diam. in lower part, terete, sulcate or not, branches few; erect fertile stems pinnately branched throughout, 5-10 cm high, stramineous; primary leafy branches 2-5 pairs, once or twice forked, branchlets sparse, adjacent primary branches on main stem 1-2 cm apart, ultimate branches 3-5 mm wide including leaves. Axillary leaves on branches asymmetrical or symmetrical, ovate-triangular, 1.2-2.5 × 0.5-1.5 mm, base exauriculate, margin ciliolate in basal half, elsewhere subentire. Dorsal leaves ± symmetrical, those on branches approximate, contiguous, or imbricate, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or triangular, 0.8-2.4 × 0.4-1.2 mm, slightly carinate, base subcordate, cuneate, or obtuse, not peltate, margin long ciliolate at base, shortly ciliolate upward, apex acuminate or aristate, parallel to axis or often reflexed. Ventral leaves asymmetrical, those on branches distant, spreading or deflexed, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-falcate, 1.6-3.2 × 0.8-1.5 mm, apex acute; basiscopic base rounded, margin denticulate in basal half, elsewhere subentire, or very shortly ciliolate at base; acroscopic base enlarged, broader, overlapping stem and branches, margin sparsely long ciliolate at base, cilia 0.4-0.6 mm, denticulate upward. Strobili solitary or in pairs, terminal, compact, dorsiventrally complanate, or sometimes tetragonal, 10-15(-45) × 2-3.5 mm; sporophylls dimorphic or slightly dimorphic, resupinate; dorsal sporophylls ovate-lanceolate, sharply carinate, margin ciliolate or denticulate, apex acuminate, with sporophyll-pteryx complete and ciliolate or denticulate; ventral sporophylls ovate-lanceolate, carinate, margin denticulate or ciliolate; megasporophylls in basal portion or middle on lower side of strobilus, or megasporophylls and microsporophylls at intervals; microsporangia transversely elliptic, rather thin, cells uniform; microspores orange-red, megaspores pale yellow or yellowish orange.

On limestone rocks, open and shaded places; (600-)1000-3100 m. Beijing, Chongqing, S Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam].