Identifying Southwest Florida's Ferns

Palmate Frond

1. Are the fronds (leaves) 1-2" long and it forms thick, vine-like climbing mats?

YES. If the answer to the question is "no," proceed to the next question on this page.

1. Are the fronds 4-12" long, roughly hand-shaped, and it's epiphytic (is not rooted in the ground)?

YES

There are no more palmate frond questions. If it is a palmate frond, the answer to one of the above two questions will be a "yes."

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Lygodium microphyllum (exotic)

(Climbing Fern, Old World Climbing Fern)

palmate frond

Description	several feet long, 8-12" wide; pinna halves long, triangular and divided into several triangular segments; mature pinnules deeply lobed; rachis twining and tough like fish line
Rhizome	slender, creeping, subterranean, hairy; root mats are dense and feet thick
Spores	each frond is divided into a few hand-shaped pinnae bearing spores on each of the several stubby "fingers" on the pinnae margins
Veins	free
Growth	open woods and more exposed sites near water; vine-like; smothers whole areas of vegetation by climbing on shrubs and small trees (photo above right beside trunk) creating a canopy that shades out everything underneath; also provides a way for fire to reach the canopy of the trees
Similar	Lygodium japonicum (Japanese Climbing Fern) has much smaller and thinner leaves; not known here

Ophiglossum palmate (rare)

(Hand Fern)

palmate frond

Description	fronds deeply lobed, hand-like, with several pendant fertile spikes; 4-12" long
Rhizome	subterranean, fleshy, naked, erect
Spores	sporangia large; several fertile spikes arise from the stipe near the base of the blade
Veins	netted
Growth	epiphytic; prefers to grow in debris collected in old palm frond boots; also found on trunks of palmettos in pine areas
Similar	none here