Name: Huperzia urbanii (Herter) Holub
Synonyms: Lycopodium urbanii Herter; Phlegmariurus urbanii (Herter) B.Øllg.; Urostachys urbanii (Herter) Herter ex Nessel
Etymology: urbanii = named in honor of Ignatz Urban, a well-known German botanist who studied the Neotropical flora extensively. 
Origin / Distribution: Southern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Location / Habitat: Epiphytic, growing in moist mountain and cloud forests in the Andean region. This species grows primarily in the moist tropical biome of higher elevations, where it usually thrives in shaded to partially shaded conditions on moss-covered branches in a consistently cool to temperate climate with extremely high humidity.
Description & Notes: Huperzia urbanii is a prehistoric-looking clubmoss (often also called a “tassel fern”) with fork-branched, elegantly drooping shoots. The dense tassels consist of bright light-green, needle-like leaves (microphylls), which give the shoots a dense, soft texture.

In cultivation, this highland species requires cool to temperate conditions (optimal approx. 13–22 °C) and tolerates prolonged summer heat poorly. Consistently high humidity (over 60–90%) and steady, gentle air circulation are essential for healthy growth. The substrate (e.g., live Sphagnum moss or a very airy, coarse orchid mix) must be kept evenly moist and must never dry out completely, as the fine, flat root system is very sensitive to dryness. The species is excellently suited for cultivation in hanging baskets or cool, moist plant display cases.