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Bristle fern

Trichomanes

Also called Bristle Ferns

Bristle fern
Photo: Denis.prévôt, CC BY-SA 3.0

Trichomanes is a genus of delicate filmy ferns in the family Hymenophyllaceae, called bristle ferns. Their membrane-thin fronds need constant humidity and wet conditions, so they are grown in terrariums or misted, humid enclosures.

Family
Hymenophyllaceae (Hymenophyll family)
Grows as
Fern
Light
Shade, Part shade
Water
Keep the root zone and air constantly moist; never let the fronds dry out.
Soil
Fine, moisture-retentive, peat-based mix or sphagnum moss, often on rock or bark.
Temperature
15–25 °C; protect below 10 °C.
How easy
Hard

About

Trichomanes is a genus of ferns in the family Hymenophyllaceae, termed bristle ferns. The circumscription of the genus is disputed. All ferns in the genus are filmy ferns, with leaf tissue typically 2 cells thick. This thinness generally necessitates a permanently humid habitat, and makes the fronds somewhat translucent. Because of this membrane-like frond tissue, the plant is prone to drying out. "Filmy ferns" in the taxa Hymenophyllaceae grow in constantly wet environments. Many are found in cloud forests such as "Choco" in Colombia. There are also members of the taxa that can grow submersed in water.

The name bristle fern refers to the small bristle that protrudes from the indusia of these ferns.

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Trichomanes 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.

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