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Microgramma spp.
snakeferns
Tropical America and tropical Africa
Overview
Microgramma is a genus of about 30 small, creeping ferns in the polypody family, native to the tropics of the Americas and Africa. Most are epiphytes that creep over tree trunks and branches, with a few growing on rocks, spreading by a long, thin, scaly rhizome that clings closely to the bark. The small fronds, spaced along the rhizome, are leathery and simple, usually 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 cm) long. Many species are dimorphic, with narrow fertile fronds that carry the spores and broader, shorter sterile fronds. Rounded clusters of spore cases (sori) line the undersides of the fertile fronds in rows. As tropical epiphytes the genus needs constant warmth and humidity and browns rapidly if allowed to dry out or chilled. Like all ferns, plants reproduce by spores and bear no flowers.
Native Range
Microgramma is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America to tropical South America, with a small number of species in tropical Africa. The ferns grow in warm, humid forests, creeping over the bark of living trees and over mossy rocks. They are most common in lowland and lower montane rainforest.Suggested Uses
Grown as a mounted or potted epiphyte in terrariums, greenhouses, and warm, humid interiors, and on tree trunks and logs in frost-free tropical gardens. The creeping habit suits hanging baskets and bark slabs where the rhizome can wander. Plants are set close to the surface they are to cover.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Microgramma reproduces by spores carried in rounded sori arranged in rows on the undersides of the fertile fronds, released during warm, humid weather. In cultivation the ferns are more often increased by dividing the creeping rhizome.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in bright, indirect light to shade with constant warmth and high humidity, and are usually mounted on bark, slabs, or set in shallow, free-draining mixes rather than dense soil. The creeping rhizome is fastened on the surface and left exposed, as covering it causes rot. Watering and frequent misting keep the rhizome and roots evenly moist; the foliage browns quickly in dry air or cold drafts. The genus is frost-tender and is grown indoors, in greenhouses, or in frost-free gardens. Scale and mealybugs are the main pests.Pruning
Pruning is limited to cutting away old, browned, or shriveled fronds at the rhizome. The creeping rhizome is divided into rooted sections to propagate plants and to keep them within their mount. No woody pruning applies.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons