alpine clubmoss

Diphasiastrum alpinum have 30-50 cm long stems, with 3-5 cm long branches. The stems are upright, 4-edged, growing densely in branchy bunches. The leaves are small, scale-like, wintering and parallel to the stem. The leaves are hollow at the bases. The spore-cases are in sessile, 1-1,5 cm long, densely cylindrical spore cones. The female stems produce strobili up to 3 cm (1 in) long. Diphasiastrum alpinum may hybridize with Diphasiastrum sitchense.

It has a circumpolar distribution across much of the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere: much of Canada, the northwestern United States, northern and central Europe, Russia, China and Japan. It is an indicator of alpine tundra and boreal climates. It is found in mountains and moors often with Calluna and grasses.