Fauna
Plant

Hanging Clubmoss

Phlegmariurus dichotomus

Also known as Forked Tassel Fern, Dichotomous Clubmoss, Hanging Firmoss

Hanging clubmoss drapes dramatically from tree branches in humid tropical forests, forming dense green cascades of bifurcating stems. These primitive spore-bearing epiphytes rely on stable, high-humidity canopy microclimates to thrive and reproduce. Their delicate Y-shaped branching patterns and tightly overlapping leaves make them striking architectural features of ancient swamp forests and cloud forests.

EpiphyticSpore-BearingTropical
Hanging Clubmoss reference1 / 3
(c) Guillaume Delaitre, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Herbivorous Snails
  • Slugs
  • Insect Larvae
ThreatsHabitat Destruction, Canopy Microclimate Alteration, Illegal Collection
HabitatsHumid Tropical Forests, Swamps, Cloud Forests
Life spanPerennial (Decades)
Classification
  1. FamilyLycopodiaceae
  2. SpeciesPhlegmariurus dichotomus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for dangling, bright green streams of repeatedly forked stems hanging directly from host tree bark.
Support conservation
Observe from below without touching or disturbing the host tree bark, and never harvest wild specimens.
Responsible observation
  • Look Upward: Scan humid upper tree canopies and branch forks in undisturbed tropical swamps.
  • Check the Structure: Look for distinct equal Y-shaped branching in dangling stems.
  • Observe Respectfully: Avoid touching or disturbing canopy epiphytes, which require decades to establish.
Related species
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