Golden leather fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden leather fern |
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| Growing among Metroxylon sagu in Indonesia | |
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The golden leather fern, also known as Acrostichum aureum, is a big type of fern. It lives in wet places like mangrove swamps. People also call it the swamp fern or mangrove fern.
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What the Golden Leather Fern Looks Like
This fern has very large leaves, which are called fronds. These fronds can grow up to 1.8 meters (about six feet) long! The leaves are shiny and wide. They are made up of many smaller leaflets called pinnae. These pinnae are dark green, feel like leather, and are spaced out.
The fronds on the outside of the plant bend sideways. But the ones in the middle stand up almost straight. Some of the bigger fronds have tiny cases called sporangia. These sporangia hold the fern's spores, which are like tiny seeds. You can find them on the top five to eight pairs of pinnae. They look brick red and make the pinnae feel a bit fuzzy.
Where the Golden Leather Fern Lives
The golden leather fern grows in warm, tropical, and sub-tropical parts of the world. You can find it in swamps, mangrove forests, and along river banks. It can even handle salty water. However, its spores grow better in fresh water.
This fern often grows on slightly higher spots in mangrove swamps. These spots are only covered by the sea sometimes. It can also grow in places with only fresh water. In Malaysia, there are two kinds of this fern. The bigger ones grow on the edge of swamps and can reach 4 meters tall. Smaller plants grow in areas that are often covered by water. This fern can grow well in bright sun or deep shade. Other plants, like the mangrove Rhizophora mucronata, can even grow among thick groups of this fern.
How Safe is the Golden Leather Fern?
The IUCN Red List, which tracks how safe plants and animals are, says the golden leather fern is of "Least Concern". This means it is not in danger. It is very common, grows fast, and can easily grow back. There are not many threats to it. In fact, it grows very strongly in areas of mangrove forest that have been disturbed. It can even be hard to get rid of!
Uses of the Golden Leather Fern
In Cambodia, people call this fern prâng' tük. The young leaves are eaten in salads.
In the Indian state of Goa, people cook this fern in a spicy sauce. This sauce is made with coconut and is called tonak. Local people think it is a special food.
Growing the Golden Leather Fern
You can grow the golden leather fern in your garden. It needs a lot of light. You can plant it in garden soil or potting mix. Just make sure the soil stays wet all the time. Regular fresh water is fine for growing it; you don't need salty water.
