Shoots pendent, 1--3-forked, clustered at base, 10--30 cm, long-lived. Roots densely covered with fine grayish uniseriate hairs, to 1 mm. Leaves spreading to ascending, 15--20 X 0.5--12 mm, very gradually narrowed from base to long-attenuate apex; margins entire. Fertile leaves reduced, 7--12 X 0.2--0.5 mm. Sporangia 2--3 times width of subtending leaf.

In the flora, Phlegmariurus dichotomus is known only from Big Cypress Swamp, Florida.