Psilotum nudum

Habitat

Coastal to monatane. In the northern part of its range Psilotum is usually a local component of coastal forest where it grows on the forest floor, in rock piles and on cliff faces. It is also occasionally epiphytic on trees such as pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). On Raoul Island it is an abundant ground cover in the “dry” forest type on that island. In the North Island outside Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula, Psilotum becomes increasingly tied to geothermally active sites where it usually grows on cliff faces and warm soil around fumaroles. In the ignimbrite country north of Lake Taupo, and also along the western shore of Lake Taupo, Psilotum is at times a very common species growing in the joints of columnar ignimbrite. On the western shoreline of Lake Taupo in this type of habitat plants can grow very large, and they may grow right down into the flood-line where they are often associated with Lindsaea viridis. Around Auckland City Psilotum is a very common, though easily overlooked plant of stone walls (especially basalt or concrete retaining walls).