Adiantum caudatum

Pteridaceae

Adiantum caudatum L.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/51348691

Walking fern

Rhizome erect, short; scales concolorous, golden brown, with entire margins. Fronds tufted, to 15(–40) cm long. Stipe to 5(–10) cm long, dark brown, hairs multicellular and dark brown to brown. Lamina 1-pinnate, lanceolate in outline, to 14(–17) cm long, 2–3 cm wide; rachis dark brown, hairs multicellular and dark brown to brown. Apex usually prolonged into a whiplike stolon rooting at tip to form new plantlet. Pinnules alternate, or lower ones subopposite, horizontally spreading or slightly obliquely spreading; lower pinnules gradually reduced, middle ones ± dimidiate, suboblong; brownish green; both surfaces sparsely multicellular hirsute; base asymmetrical; lower margins entire, upper margins deeply divided into many narrow lobes; lobes linear, margins entire, upper part again lobed into fine linear segments. Sori 5–12 per pinna; false indusia dark brown, orbicular or oblong, hairy, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent.

In Australia this species is only known naturally from near Cooktown in north Queensland. Also widespread in Asia.

Terrestrial or lithophytic in vine thickets on limestime (in Australia), near exposed rocks and roots. This species can spread adventitiously from buds on its leaf tips.

This is a commonly cultivated ornamental fern in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas. It is suited to cultivation in the ground or in a container planted in a free-draining but moisture retaining terrestrial growing medium. New plants are produced from leaf-tip offsets.