About Austrolycopodium fastigiatum (R.Br.) Holub
Austrolycopodium fastigiatum, with the synonym Lycopodium fastigiatum, is commonly called alpine club moss or mountain club moss. It is a club moss species native to New Zealand and Australia. The genus Austrolycopodium is recognized in the 2016 Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification (PPG I), but other classifications do not accept this genus and instead merge it into Lycopodium. This species has an upright, heavily branched, conifer-like appearance, and can reach a height of 10 cm (4 in). It is widespread throughout New Zealand, including Stewart Island, Chatham Island, Adams Island, Auckland Island, and Campbell Island. It has also been recorded in the Australian states of Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. It grows in mountainous alpine areas down to scrubland. In cold conditions, it can take on a bright orange color.
