Microsorum

Scientific name

Microsorum Link

Common names

Java fern

Family

Polypodiaceae

Similar genera

Bolbitis

Native distribution

tropical Asia

Species cultivated

Microsorum pteropus (Blume) Copel.

M. brassii Copel.

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
, rhizomatousrhizomatous:
(adj) possessing rhizomes
, creeping, commonly growing on rocks and logs

Brief description

Perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
fern. Rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
creeping, occasionally branching, roots numerous, bearing dense mat of short brown scales. Leaves erect, regularly spaced along rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
, usually simple, but if emersedemersed:
see emergent
, commonly 3- or 5- lobedlobed:
(adj) divided into (usually rounded) segments
; leaf blades or lobes linear to lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entire. Sporangiasporangium:
(n) (pl. sporangia) a unicellular or multicellular sac or structure that produces spores
present on abaxialabaxial:
(adj) the side facing away from the axis, as in the underside of a leaf
surface of fertilefertile:
(adj) producing viable seed, spores, or pollen; capable of reproducing
, emersedemersed:
see emergent
leaves (fronds). Small plantlets arise from leaf tips on both submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
and emersedemersed:
see emergent
fronds. Dispersal by spores, stem fragments and plantlets.

Natural habitat

shade or full sun, epiphyticepiphytic:
(adj) of a plant growing on another plant but not parasitic; plant grown on may be alive or, e.g., a dead tree trunk
, lithophyticlithophytic:
(adj) growing in or on rocks
along water marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim

Additional comments

A genus of 26 species throughout Asia and Australasia, Microsorum contains only a few aquatic species. Microsorum brassii (often called 'narrow-leaved Java fern') is much smaller than M. pteropus and has narrower leaves. It is rarely cultivated. Several cultivated varieties of M. pteropus are available, including varieties ‘Windeløv’ and 'Tropica'. If a single leaf fragment is left in water, numerous new plantlets will develop from the leaf underside.