Gleichenia alpina, commonly known as alpine coral-fern, is a small fern species that occurs in Tasmania and New Zealand.

[4] Gleichenia alpina is a common native ground fern that grows in boggy alpine and subalpine vegetation.

[5] Gleichenia alpina is characterised by comparatively short frond axes and the dense orange-brown (becoming pale) scales that obscure the abaxial surface of the lamina.

In contrast, G. dicarpa has: stellate scales with patent branches (curled in Chatham Islands’ plants) on the abaxial and/or adaxial surfaces of the β costae; complanate or weakly convex adaxial surface of the ultimate segments; 1–4 (rarely 0 or 5) pseudodichotomous forks in the pinnae (excluding growth from pinna buds); usually accessory leaflets around the rachis bud; and pinna buds that extend only occasionally and rarely more than once.

Currently the status of G. alpina in New Zealand requires further study as some reduced forms of G. dicarpa can be easily confused with it.