Status:
valid
Authors:
J.Agardh
Source:
tro
Year:
1839
Citation Micro:
Recens. Spec. Pter. : 17 (1839)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001107868
Common Names
- Madagascar Pteris Fern
- Madagascar Brake Fern
- Madagascar Table Fern
Description
Pteris madagascarica (also called Madagascar Brake, 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 triangular fronds with a single midrib and many small, rounded pinnae.
Uses & Benefits
Pteris madagascarica 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
Pteris madagascarica 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
Pteris madagascarica 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 Pteris madagascarica
Pteris madagascarica is native to Madagascar and is found in moist, shady forests.
Species in the Pteris genus
Species in the Pteridaceae family