OLD WORLD CLIMBING FERN
Scientific name: Lygodium microphyllum
Family: Lygodiaceae/climbing fern
Origin: Africa to Southeast Asia, and Australia
Description:
Fern with dark brown wiry stems and climbing, winding fronds growing to ninety feet in length. Leafy branches off main stem, once compound, two-to-five inches long. Leaflets generally unlobed, stalked, and distinct.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs in various habitats, pine flat woods, marshes, cypress swamps, and can be found growing along drainage ditch banks, covering entire trees and sprawling over native vegetation, forming thick spongy mats along the forest floor.
OYSTER PLANT
Scientific name: Rhoeo spathacea
Family: Commelinaceae/dayflower
Origin: West Indies, Mexico, Central America
Description:
Perennial herb with short, stout stem nearly hidden by overlapping leaf bases. Forms clumps by offshoots from fleshy rootstock. Leaves spreading-erect, closely overlapping in a spiral pattern. Blades broadly linear, sharp-tipped, waxy, stiff, somewhat fleshy, six-to-twelve inches long and one-to-three inches wide; upper surfaces dark green with pale yellow stripes; lower surfaces usually purple. Flowers are small, white. Fruit is a two-seeded capsule, in clusters.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs in pine flat woods, hammocks, tropical hammocks, and scrub. Sensitive to freezing; can grow in high or medium light. Flowers all year, providing year-round availability of seeds. Spreads readily by seed and self-propagation of off-shoots; forms dense ground covers and clumps preventing seedling growth from native vegetation.
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