Palhinhaea cernua

Lycopodiaceae

Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Franco & Vasc.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/51347313

Main stems to 5 m or more long, creeping or looping over the ground, rooting at points of contact. Branchlet system usually 1 per loop, dendroid, erect, occasionally climbing, commonly 0.3–1 (–2) m tall, much-branched, glabrous or hairy. Leaves spirally arranged to subwhorled, clustered, linear to narrowly triangular, acuminate, curved towards the shoot apex, 1.5–4.5 mm long, 0.2–1 mm wide, green to yellowish-green. Strobili numerous, 5–15 mm long. Sporophylls imbricate, ovate, acuminate, pale yellow; margins ciliate.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical WA, NT and QLD. Also pantropical.

Terrestrial, common and forming large stands in water soaked areas and on roadsides in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.

Slow to propagate and establish but grows well in a moist well lit part of the tropical garden.