Fork fern
sporophytes lack true
roots, but have creeping subterranean
rhizomes. They also lack true
leaves but have a green
photosynthetic stem containing
vascular tissue
xylem and
phloem with scale-like leaves that lack vascular tissue.
Psilotaceae are represented in New Zealand by two genera, Psilotum (1 of) and Tmesipteris (4 of). Tmesipteris normally grow, as
epiphytes on tree ferns, but are occasionally
terrestrial, while Psilotum prefers warm ground and is common in thermal areas.