Lycopodium phyllanthum Hook. & Am.; L. pachystachyon Spring; L. pachystachyon var. phyllanthum (Hook. & Am.) Hillebr.; Ph/egmariurus phyllanthus (Hook. & Am.) R. D. Dixit; Urostachys phyllanthus (Hook. & Am.) Herter

Common names: wawae'iole (rat's foot)

Indigenous                           

Greek phyllon, leaf, + anthera, anther, probably referring to the strobili of fertile leaves.

Plants medium-sized, epiphytic. Stems sub-erect or pendulous, unforked to 3-forked, 20-70 x 2.0-4.5 cm, stiff, with fertile terminal strobili. Sterile leaves usually close except at bases, in irregular rows, lanceolate, 10-22 x 3-4 mm, stiff, coriaceous, ascending above, decurrent below, tips acute, margins entire, contracted at bases, midribs distinct on undersurfaces. Fertile leaves much smaller, ovate, acute-tipped, ribbed. Strobili 5-25 cm x 2.5-4 mm, usually less extensive than sterile stems, 1/10-1/5 stem widths, 1-to 4-forked.

Common epiphyte in mesic to wet forests, 250-945 m, all major islands. Native from India to Polynesia.

Wawae'iole was boiled in water and used as a rheumatism remedy by the Hawaiians.

Huperzia phyllantha, the most common Hawaiian Huperzia, may be distinguished from the other species in the Phleg-maria group by its larger size and an abrupt transition from sterile to fertile leaves, producing many branched, narrow strobili.