It occurs naturally in a broad coastal belt in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Malawi, Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Réunion, Amsterdam Island and Madagascar, and was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771 under the name Onoclea polypodioides.

It is often mistakenly seen as an exotic invader rather than as a useful rehabilitation plant, a source of peat and growing medium,[1][2] while showing exceptional resistance to herbicides.

Pinnules (foliar segments) linear, up to 7 x 0.75 cm., pinnate, usually glabrous (but sometimes set with brown laciniate scales), divided into sessile rounded entire triangular lobes, 3 x 2 mm., green to glaucous below.

Sori partially immersed in the lamina, consisting of 2–4 sporangia, each in a separate but adjoining pit.The genus is named after the German botanist W.F.

[5] Gleichenia polypodioides is one of 12 species in the genus,[6] and occurs on sheltered rocks and slopes, along stream- and earthbanks, on road embankments and other disturbed areas, in cool regions of high rainfall or frequent mist, on sites enjoying full sun or light shade.