Old World Forkedfern
Dicranopteris linearis
Also known as: Gleichenia linearis
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., China, Comoros, Cook Is., DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Hawaii, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Réunion, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Uganda, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., Zambia, Zimbabwe
iNaturalist: © natureali (iNaturalist #9954035)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Gleicheniaceae
- Genus:
- Dicranopteris
- Species:
- Dicranopteris linearis
- USDA Symbol:
- DILI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire; often dominates disturbed and burned sites in tropical regions.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in open, disturbed areas
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Fern reproduces via spores; spore germination requires moist, shaded conditions and can be slow and erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Individual 5.0 mg packets of D. linearis spores were portioned using an analytical balance. A fine paintbrush was used to disperse spores onto the medium. The brush was held approximately 5 cm above the medium’s surface and spores were sown by lightly tapping the brush.
Source: npn.rngr.net