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== Appearance and ecology ==
[[File:Diselma RW.jpg|thumb|left| Scale-like leaves appear in a square in cross section and red coloration of juvenile cone formation. Photo: R. Wiltshire]] [[File:D. archeri cones.png|thumb|left|240x150px|D. archeri cones]]
''Diselma archeri'' is a compact, prostrate [[shrub]] which commonly reaches 1–4 m in height but has been recorded to reach greater heights in subalpine rainforest zones. The foliage has a grey-green appearance with branchlets curving downward at their tips. Branches are short, ridged and very numerous. Branchlet foliage appears square in cross-section and scale-like [[leaf|leaves]] (2–3 mm) are overlapping and arranged in [[opposite decussate]] pairs which are pressed close to the stem.<ref>Kirkpatrick, J. 1997. Alpine Tasmania. An illustrated guide to the flora and vegetation. Oxford University Press" Melbourne. P. 18-19.</ref> The square leaf arrangement is similar to that of ''[[Microcachrys tetragona]]'' ([[Podocarpaceae]]) (creeping pine) and the two species can easily be confused. However, ''M. tetragona'' lives up to its name and grows low to the ground, spreading out with only occasional erect branches. Another species which can be confused with ''Diselma'' is ''Phaerosphaera hookeriana'' (previously known as ''Microstrobos niphophilus'' ) which is
Bark is rough and scaly and often weathered revealing a reddish-brown inner bark.
Being a [[gymnosperm]] no flowers are produced, instead seed development occurs on the surface of the scale-like leaves which are modified to form cones (see image).<ref>Raven, P.H., Evert, R.F., Eichorn, S.E. 2003. Biology of Plants. 6th Edition. W.H Freeman and Company</ref>
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