Status:
valid
Authors:
Willd.
Source:
tro
Year:
1810
Citation Micro:
Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 5: 117 (1810)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001107876
Common Names
- Showy Acrostichum Fern
- Showy Leather Fern
- Showy Golden-scaled Fern
Description
Acrostichum speciosum (also called Giant Leather Fern, among many other common names) is a species of fern in the family Pteridaceae. It is native to Madagascar, where it grows in moist, shady habitats. It is a terrestrial fern with a creeping rhizome, and it has large, leathery fronds with many small, rounded pinnae.
Uses & Benefits
Acrostichum speciosum is used as a ground cover in gardens and as an ornamental plant in containers. It is also used as a soil stabilizer and erosion control.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
Acrostichum speciosum has small, yellowish-green flowers that are clustered in a panicle. The seeds are small and black, and the seedlings have two cotyledons and a long, slender hypocotyl.
Cultivation and Propagation
Acrostichum speciosum is a fern native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarene Islands. It is an evergreen, terrestrial fern that grows in moist, shady areas. It can be propagated by spores or by division of the rhizomes. It prefers a well-drained, humus-rich soil and partial shade.
Where to Find Acrostichum speciosum
Acrostichum speciosum is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Species in the Acrostichum genus
Species in the Pteridaceae family