It occurs in New Zealand, South America, Southern Africa, and is very common in wet forests of Australia and Tasmania.

[4] It has an erect brownish stalk with a flat frond structure; it closely resembles a different liverwort species, Hymenophyton flabellatum.

[6][7] This dendroid, thalloid liverwort is characterised by its palmate, 'fan-like' fronds which arise from its distinct brown stalk which is up to 2cm tall.

[8] It can occur in drier habitats where conditions allow, in shady, moist areas such as banks of permanent streams.

[4] It is a common plant in Tasmanian wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest, growing in many areas where it has adequate substrate.