Family: Gleicheniaceae
Common name: Old world forked fern, False staghorn fern, Common fern, Linear fern, Dilim, Resam
Old world forked fern is a very common species of fern distributed across Southeast Asian countries, South America, and Caribbean. They are commonly seen growing in the wild on hillsides, rocky areas, undisturbed land, backyards, and so on.
Plant characteristics
These ferns can grow into large thickets, multiplying quickly because of their rhizomatous roots, and long branching stems. They can grow to a height of 2-3 meters under normal circumstances.
But if allowed to climb on trees or surrounding vegetation, they can grow over 7-8 meters tall. But this climbing habit can also smother other surrounding vegetation, choking small plantlets or cultivated plants.
Leaves of the Old world forked fern are their most distinguishing feature – each frond finely divided in a linear fashion, giving the plant its name linearis.
These leaves grow from forked stems that are yellowish-green in color, each frond growing to a length of 60-80 cm. The feather-like thin leaflets are dark green on top, and pale green underneath.
Young leaves are coiled up, as is common with ferns, gradually unfurling and becoming horizontal in the process.
Old world forked ferns do not have flowers or fruits, but they reproduce through microscopic spores that are produced in specialized structures called sporangia located underneath the leaves.
These sporangia are clearly visible as small, rounded or elongated black marks when you observe the lower surface of mature fern leaves. On maturity, these spores are released into the air. They settle on different surfaces, and germinate when the substrate is suitable for growth.
Gardening tips
Old world forked ferns grow well in moist, warm, tropical environments like rainforests, open woodlands, and along the edges of streams or ponds. These plants need good, direct sunlight without which they become lanky, and pale.
Old world forked fern plants need regular watering or misting and a well-drained soil. Adding small rocks, coco peat, or clumps of moss to the soil can help aerate the soil and help the aerial roots spread well.
Ferns do not like a change of location, so once the plant is happy in a location, it should not be moved unless absolutely necessary. They are reasonably resistant to pests, but any case of infestation can be treated with neem oil or organic pesticide sprays.
Uses of Old world forked fern
These plants are mostly grown as ornamentals, though they also have some medicinal uses in the treatment of cuts, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases, and fever.
Old world forked ferns are excellent ground cover plants preventing soil erosion since the fallen leaves and rhizomes make a good surface for new plants to grow and take root. They form large thickets that can prevent the entry of grazing animals or intruders.
The floor beneath these ferns acts as a good ecosystem for small animals, insects, and birds that can nest in the cool, moist environment protected from natural elements and predators.
Old world forked ferns can become invasive when allowed to grow near other vegetation, that might get smothered by the thick fronds.
Propagation
Propagation is through spores that are produced in small black structures called sporangia that are found underneath the leaves.
Mature dried leaves can be shaken inside a paper bag or ruffled with the hands over a piece of paper to extract the spores. These can then be spread on a well-draining medium that contains moss, cocopeat or perlite. Keep the surface moist till they germinate in 3-6 weeks.
Photographed at: Lunuganga, Sri Lanka
