Fanleaf Dwarf Polypody
Melpomense flabelliformis
- Native to:
- Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Gulf of Guinea Is., Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Zimbabwe
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Grammitidaceae
- Genus:
- Melpomense
- Species:
- Melpomense flabelliformis
- USDA Symbol:
- MEFL5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers shaded forest floors
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Ferns reproduce via spores, not seeds; spore germination requires moist, shaded conditions and produces a gametophyte stage before the mature fern develops.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI