Plant of the Week 02/13/2006: Wart Fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria)

Plant of the Week 02/13/2006

Phymatosorus scolopendria (Burman f.) Pichi-Sermolli

Photographed by: Chelsie Vandaveer
Credits: Wart fern a gift from R. Vandaveer.
Other Information: Olympus C-8080wz

The serpent or wart fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria (Burman f.) Pichi-Sermolli) is native to the Old World tropics ranging from Africa and Madagascar to Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Australia, and Polynesia. In its native habitats, wart fern is usually found in dune forests very close to the sea. It covers the ground, climbs on rocks, up the sides of trees and palms, and will grow on old stone or brick walls.

The name wart fern comes from the sori, the spore-bearing structures on the underside of the fronds. As these develop, they cause bumps on the upper surface, the so-called 'warts'. These ferns are members of the Polypodiaceae, the many-footed fern family which is where this fern gets its 'serpent' name. The feet or rhizomes vaguely resemble little green snakes.

Wart fern is easy to cultivate and makes an outstanding plant for a hanging basket; the green rhizomes curl around the outer side of the basket. The fronds arise from the rhizomes. Eventually the entire basket becomes an elegant sphere of shiny green fronds.

Wart fern has a unique characteristic and for this has a much nicer name in Hawaii—the maile [my' lay]-scented fern. Freshly picked fronds have little or no fragrance, but as the frond ages, it releases a light, sweet, vanilla scent. On laundry day, the fronds were placed between folded linens and such to keep them fresh and sweet smelling.

(Compiled from: Encyclopedia of Ferns, David L. Jones, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 1987; Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Wunderlin, R P, and B F Hansen. 2004. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research]; and "Phymatosorus scolopendria", D. Lee Ling, College of Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia, 1998.)