Necklace fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Necklace fern |
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| Necklace fern on Hawkesbury sandstone at Ferndale Park, Chatswood West, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asplenium
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| Species: |
flabellifolium
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The necklace fern (scientific name: Asplenium flabellifolium) is a small and unique fern. It gets its common name because its leaves, or fronds, often have a shape that looks a bit like beads on a necklace. You can find this fern growing in all states of Australia, as well as in New Zealand. A Spanish scientist named Antonio José Cavanilles was the first person to officially describe this plant.
Where Does the Necklace Fern Live?
The necklace fern likes to grow in different natural places. Its favorite spots are open forests or rainforests. You will usually see it growing on the ground. Sometimes, it can also be an epiphyte. This means it grows on other plants, like tree trunks, but it doesn't harm them.
You might spot necklace ferns in cool places like rock cracks, inside caves, or on fallen logs. They also like to be near water, so look for them beside streams, close to cliffs, or near waterfalls.
What Does the Necklace Fern Look Like?
The leaves of the necklace fern are called fronds. These fronds can be anywhere from 10 to 20 centimeters (about 4 to 8 inches) long. Each frond has many smaller leaf parts called pinnae. There are usually 5 to 20 pairs of these pinnae along the frond.
The pinnae often have a fan shape, like a small hand fan. Sometimes, they can also be lanceolate, which means they are shaped like a spearhead – wider at the bottom and tapering to a point.
