A common plant, often seen growing under waterfalls, in swamps, under cliffs and in tall open forest.

Gleichenia microphylla's rachis on major branches has conspicuous and numerous bundles of bristles that are shiny, short, and amber to dark brown in colour.

The uncoiling tips and young rachises are covered in red-brown bristles and have some fringed scales.

The lower surface of the pinnules are flat or slightly concave and never rolled inwards on all edges to make a pocket.

[3][4][5] Gleichenia microphylla forms large scrambling colonies in sunny damp sites around swamps, on exposed banks and along creek margins.

In South Island, It can be seen in Western Nelson, Sounds-Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Fiordland, and, Southland.

Gleichenia microphylla can hybridise with G. dicarpa and the hybrids are called G. xpunctulata and they are morphologically intermediate between both species.