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Microsorum pteropus
Java fern is an aquatic or semi-aquatic fern, widely grown in aquariums and also as a damp-loving houseplant. Attach it to rock or driftwood rather than burying the rhizome, and keep the roots wet.
Leptochilus pteropus (synonym Microsorum pteropus) is a species of aquatic or semi-aquatic fern, commonly known as Java fern (after the Indonesian island of Java). It is predominantly known from Malaysia, Thailand, Northeastern India and parts of South China. It is a highly variable plant, with several different geographic varieties and physical forms that vary in leaf size, texture and shape (such as the crested-leaved 'Windelov' or 'Trident' varieties). Found in its natural habitat growing attached to riparian roots and rocks, it can grow fully or partially submerged, provided its roots and rhizome remain wet. The plant will readily propagate asexually by producing small, adventitious plantlets from the leaf tips and margins of established, mature foliage.
Java fern is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby, due to its aesthetic appeal and ease of care. Several cultivars of Java fern exist, including the "narrow leaf", "needle leaf", "Windelov", "trident", and "lance leaf" variants. Cultivation in the aquarium is usually performed by tying or glueing the roots coming from the rhizome to rock or driftwood, instead of planting it directly into the substrate.
It can be cultivated in tap water, dim or bright light, with or without gravel. It is more snail resistant and grows better with higher fish loads.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Leptochilus pteropus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
