This Tasmanian endemic is a temperate rain forest species. It grows vertically but then quickly bends over under its own weight. The now horizontal trunk produces more vertical branches which in turn bend over and become horizontal - hence the name. No doubt all rain forests are described as impenetrable but the habit of this species to form a vertical and horizontal tangle of branches made progress through this kind of countryside notoriously difficult for early settlers.

The guards of penal settlements which were surrounded by rain forest knew that even if a prisoner escaped the chances of his making any headway through such a tangle of forest was virtually nil.

Rain Forest on banks of the Gordon River, Tasmania 30th August 2007

Added on 28th February 2008, updated 9th July 2008, updated 27th Feb 2010