Latin verticalis, upright, in reference to the upright branches of this plant.

Stems strictly upright, branches forming a dense, columnar, tightly packed cluster, leaves somewhat incurved to straight. Strobili 2 (rarely more) per fertile stem, 1.5-4 cm long, nearly sessile or with short (0.2-0.9 mm) stalks.

Found in dry, exposed sites, 1,220-2,440 m, on Mauna Loa, Hawai 'i. The distribution of this newly described taxon is not known.

Lycopodium venustulum var. verticale may be distinguished from var. venustulum by its compact, upright form and by its fewer, shorter strobili.