Lycopodium kraussianum Kunze, Linnaea 18: 114. 1844; Didiclis kraussiana (Kunze) Rothmaler; Lycopodioides kraussiana (Kunze) Kuntze.

Plants terrestrial, evergreen or seasonally green, creeping, 15-45 cm or more. Rhizophores at intervals throughout length of creeping stem and branches, on dorsal side in axils of stem branches. Main stems branched throughout, not very regularly pinnately branched, slightly articulate, stramineous, 0.6-1.2 mm in diam. in lower part, subquadrangular or angulate, sulcate, glabrous, with 3 vascular bundles; primary leafy branches 10-20 pairs, 2 or 3 times pinnately branched, branchlets sparse or irregular, adjacent primary branches on main stem 2-5 cm apart, ultimate branches 3-6 mm wide including leaves. Axillary leaves on main stems not obviously larger than those on branches, oblong-elliptic, base not peltate, obtuse; axillary leaves on branches symmetrical, oblong-elliptic, 2.3-3.8 × 1-2 mm, base exauriculate (obtuse), margin denticulate. Dorsal leaves asymmetrical, those on branches approximate or not, broadly elliptic-lanceolate, 2.1-2.8 × 0.6-1 mm, not carinate or slightly carinate, base oblique, slightly uniauriculate (on outer side), not peltate, margin denticulate, apex acuminate. Ventral leaves asymmetrical, those on main stem not obviously larger than those on branches; ventral leaves on branches distant, spreading, ovate-elliptic, 2.4-4 × 1.2-1.8 mm, margin denticulate, apex acute; acroscopic base not enlarged. Fertile branches erect. Strobili solitary, terminal and lateral to branches, compact, tetragonal, 3-4 × ca. 1 mm; sporophylls uniform, not white-margined, ovate-lanceolate, margin denticulate, apex acuminate; lower side of strobilus with only 1 megasporophyll at base, elsewhere with microsporophylls; microsporangia elliptic-oblong, with relatively large cells in central part; microspores echinate, 25-36 μm, megaspores cristate-reticulate, 400-1100 μm.

Common in botanical gardens, in shade-forming mats. Guangdong, Guizhou [native to S and E Africa; cultivated and escaped in many countries].