Histiopteris incisa
Also known as bat’s wing fern, water fern, histiopteris, mata, and fern mata.
A common fern found in Australia, New Zealand, and many of the South Pacific Islands in moist areas where it forms large colonies. Found in coastal to subalpine regions. The large fronds of this fern provide a shady moist place for frogs to hide. The lower lobe of each pinna has a bat wing-like appearance from whence it name comes. This medium-sized fern produces approx. 60-200 cm long fronds that are widely spaced, distinct, and slightly dimorphic with fertile lobes. Rhizomes are long-creeping, scaly, with stipes and rachis chestnut-brown at the base otherwise mainly yellow-brown blarous except for basal scales, glossy, with stipe .15-1.2 meters long, 5-10 mm in diameter.
Uses:
Ornamental – both indoor and outdoors.
keywords: histiopteris incisa, bat’s wing fern, water fern, histiopteris, mata, fern mata, ornamental, fern
References:
- nzpcn.org.nz n.d. “Histiopteris incisa” website referenced 6/23/21 at https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/histiopteris-incisa/
- Wikipedia n.d. “Histiopteris incisa” website referenced 6/23/21 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histiopteris_incisa
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