#nephrolepidaceae

[syngoniums]

I pulled up this fern to bring it in for the freeze, and discovered it had formed numerous tubers this year. Only a few species of Nephrolepis develop these, most notoriously N. cordifolia, which has become invasive in Florida. This was sold as a Kimberley queen fern, N. obliterata, but I'm finding conflicting info on whether that species can form tubers or not. If not, then this plant is mislabeled, and big box stores are distributing an invasive species under an incorrect name. I'll have to key it out later to be sure. (The tubers are apparently edible, btw, if any Floridians are in a foraging mood.)

[2manyplants]

10.11.17 - Not exactly where I expected new fronds, but sure!

[drhoz]

#1874 - Nephrolepis cordifolia - Fishbone Fern

AKA Sword Fern. The genus are also known as Macho Ferns or Boston Ferns. Nephrolepis refers to the kidney-shaped spore covers, not present in these photos unfortunately.

One of three different ferns I found growing on the wall overlooking the Yarra River behind Federation Square in Melbourne, while I was waiting for ferry tickets.

The species is found in the tropics wordwide, and was likely indigenous to parts of NSW and Queensland, but its arrival in other parts of Australia is probably due to widespread cultivation as an ornamental. Humans may also be responsible for its presence in Hawaii and the Americas. The species has been available from Melbourne nurseries since the 1880s.

On the other hand it's also been cheerfully colonizing parts of Melbourne since at the 1980s at the very least, growing variously on station buildings and platform walls, often with other ferns including one I'll cover next. Everywhere it's been reported from, the colonised structure is thought to receive dependable moisture - from roadway sub-bases and leaky pipes, or in disused brick sewer outfalls.