Botanical name:

Asplenium polyodon

Common name(s):

Sickle spleenwort

About:

Asplenium polyodon is identified by its elongated, arching, or pendulous fronds that exhibit 1-pinnate laminae. It has dark brown, highly scaly stipes and rachises, while its pinnae are characterised by a double serration and a prominent enlarged basal acroscopic lobe.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane. In scrub and dense forest, often as an epiphyte but also on rock outcrops, fallen logs and on the ground.

Growing environment:

Shade, Wetland tolerant & Free draining.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand: Kermadec, Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Also Madagascar, Indo-Malaysian, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. In the South Island mainly western, in the east found as far south as Bull Creek on the coast south of Dunedin.

Height: 60cm

Flowering: N/A spore producing

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Forests, Rock walls, Container & indoor friendly.

How to grow:

Rather slow growing but a very attractive species which is excellent in a pot, on a shaded rock wall, or planted in a free draining, moist, fertile soil under tall trees.