There is some evidence that it might be a true fern that has lost some typically fern-like characteristics.

P. complanatum grows 10 to 75 cm long and stems branch in pairs a number of times up their length and are covered with brownish colored hair-like rhizoids.

Small stalks end with simple sporangia from the axils of minute bifid, rounded sporophylls.

Some botanists believe P. complanatum is a survivor from a very primitive lineage of fern-like vascular plants.

[3] Psilotum complanatum lives in moist evergreen forests on the Malay Peninsula, Australia, Fiji islands, Mexico, Hawaii and South America.