Botanical name:

Diphasium scariosum

Common name(s):

Creeping clubmoss

About:

D. scariosum is a type of club moss characterised by its multi-branched main stems that tend to lie flat on the ground, extending up to an impressive length of 2m. When it comes to height, this plant can reach up to 50cm. It features small leaves that are of two distinct types; one is an upright, larger sickle-shaped leaf, while the other consists of slightly smaller leaves situated on the underside of the stem. In addition to its foliage, D. scariosum also produces eye-catching orange-brown cones that grow on erect, sparsely leaved, unbranched stalks, adding to its unique appearance.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to subalpine (mostly montane in the northern North Island). A species of open habitats such as mossy roadside banks, stream banks, shrub-land, and peaty ground (rarely restiad bog).

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Shade, Wind, Wetland & Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North, South, Stewart, Chatham, Antipodes, Campbell, and Auckland Islands (from near Mangamuka south but scarce in Northland). Also found in Australia, Philippines, Borneo and New Guinea.

Height: 50cm (creeping up to 2m)

Flowering: N/A Spore producing.

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Forests & Wetland’s

How to grow:

Difficult and should never be removed from the wild.