Diphasiastrum digitatum is known as groundcedar, running cedar or crowsfoot, along with other members of its genus, but the common name fan clubmoss can be used to refer to it specifically.

[not verified in body] In the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, the plant is known locally as "Bear's Paw."

Diphasiastrum digitatum is a perennial vascular plant that does not contain a significant amount of wood tissue above or at the ground.

The branch leaves are green and shiny, the base extends down to the stem (decurrent) and the free portion at the tip is pointed and scale-like.

[7] Other habitats include upland woodlands, bluffs, sandstone cliffs, and abandoned sandy fields.

Club moss spores and teas from plant leaves have been used since ancient times in both American Indian and European cultures.

The spores repel water and have been used as a powder on skin rashes and even on baby bottoms, and to treat wounds.

Transplants are rarely successful, and the development of mature plants from spores is very slow (taking perhaps 20 years).

They can be grown with frequent application of weak fertilizer solution under bright light, high humidity, and year-round moderate temperatures in greenhouses, growth chambers, and laboratories.

It prefers a somewhat acidic soil that is sandy or rocky, dappled sunlight to light shade, and well-drained conditions.