It can be found in aquatic habitats of coastal Alaska and British Columbia south to California and Colorado.

It is frequently found on Vancouver Island and around the Fraser Valley region.

[3] It bears 10 to 30 or more rigid, dark green leaves, each 5 to 20 centimeters long.

The velum covers one fourth to one third of the orbicular sporangium, which is 5 to 6 millimeters in diameter.

The white megaspores are 500 to 700 micrometers in diameter and bear sharp ridges and crests.