Status:
valid
Authors:
(Copel.) Ching
Source:
tro
Year:
1990
Citation Micro:
Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 3(1): 24 (1990): (1990)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001123736
Common Names
- Five-Leaf Shield Fern
- Five-Leaf Pteris Fern
- Five-Leaf Fern
Description
Pteris quinquefoliata (also called Five-leaved Brake, among many other common names) is a fern species native to China, Japan, and Taiwan. It is an evergreen species with a creeping rhizome and a tuft of fronds. It grows in moist forests and along streams at elevations of up to 1,200 meters.
Uses & Benefits
Pteris quinquefoliata is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a houseplant. It is also used to reduce air pollution, as it is known to absorb pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
Pteris quinquefoliata has small, yellowish-green flowers that are clustered in a raceme. The seeds are small, dark brown, and ovoid in shape. The seedlings are small and have a single pair of cotyledons.
Where to Find Pteris quinquefoliata
Pteris quinquefoliata is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Species in the Pteris genus
Species in the Pteridaceae family