Crocodile Fern

Microsorum musifolium

Microsorum musifolium is an an epiphytic fern in the family Polypodiaceae.
Crocodile fern Microsorum musifolium is native to this country in the more temperate regions that do not receive frosts. At maturity, crocodile fern reaches heights of 0.6 to 1.5 m with a similar width. The long, leathery and broad leaves feature a very attractive mosaic pattern with veins in black and mid to dark green, resembling crocodile (or some say, snake) skin. Microsorum is a genus of around 40 or so ferns and rhizomatous plants with many being epiphytic. Australia,Crocodile Fern,Flora,Geotagged,Microsorum musifolium,Polypodiaceae,Polypodiales,Winter,botany,crocodile fern,macro,new south wales

Appearance

Elongated, entire, strap-like blades that grow to 4' long in its native tropical habitat. Sori appear on the frond undersides along the veins. Frond texture (clathrate scales) somewhat resembles the scaled texture of crocodile skin, hence the sometimes used common name of crocodile fern.

Naming

Mirosorum musifolium, synonymous with and also known as Polypodium musifolium.

Genus name comes from the Greek mikros meaning small and soros meaning a heap for the cluster of spore capsules.

Distribution

Southeast Asia and also can be found growing in parts of Australia.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e955
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionPolypodiophyta
ClassPolypodiopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyPolypodiaceae
GenusMicrosorum
SpeciesMicrosorum musifolium
Photographed in
Australia