Flora of New Zealand Series

Stems creeping, irregularly branched, forming a loose mat. Lvs dimorphic, 4-ranked. Lvs of 2 lateral ranks spreading, ovate, acute, finely ciliate, 3-4-(5) mm long, ± uniform throughout, widely spaced except at the apices. Lvs of 2 upper ranks appressed to stem, 2-3 mm long, with more tapering apices. Strobili sessile, lateral, up to 10 mm long; sporophylls markedly smaller than microphylls.

N.: frequent throughout in lowland sites; S.: Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, scattered in lowland localities in Otago; Ch.

C. and southern Africa 1919

Damp forest floors, stream banks.

This sp. is now common in many parts of N.Z. forming extensive carpets on forest floors, and in damp, shaded sites (Plate 2).