No doubt you have been out walking in the forest and found yourself walking on a carpet of small green plants or seen them growing along the walking tracks. This carpet consists of many small simple plants collectively known as bryophytes, although mixed in with these you are also likely to find fungi, lichens, ferns and other small vascular plants. On the following pages you will find information and photographs of the more common New Zealand bryophytes.

Please remember this site is not intended as an identification guide as there are errors but rather the sites purpose is to show you the diversity of life. Particularly the smaller life forms that you are more likely to walk over than notice.