Piperaceae.
First Page
List of Families
This family consists of mostly none woody plants or shrubby climbers. They have simple leaves and minute flowers. Differing from other families by their leaves being mostly alternate, a superior ovary and solitary ovules in a single ovary cavity. Piperaceae has a natural distribution through the tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
Peperomia.
This is a remarkably large genus from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Almost the entire genus are of a succulent nature, with many being true epiphytes in their natural habitats. Mostly, they are drought and frost tender plants that will rot easily if the roots are kept wet, so use a coarse and open potting mixture if grown in containers. A suitable mixture would be a good quality, commercial potting mixture with extra river sand and leaf mould.
To each, 12 centimetres (5-inch), pot of soil mixture, add a teaspoon of a slow acting fertiliser. We should carry out repotting each year to obtain maximum growth. Most are shade loving plants that scald easily if they receive direct sunlight, so are easily grown as a house plant. As this genus is tropical and subtropical, keep in a frost free area with good light. Some Peperomias often become leggy with age and need to be replaced. They are easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings in the warmer weather. Keep an eye out for mealybugs, spider mites and white fly.
They is a natives of tropical America and Queensland, Australia, mostly living in the moist and shady middle structures of large rainforest trees.
Peperomia elongata
A medium sized creeping epiphyte with stolon type stems that grow to 0.3 centimetres (1/8-inch) thick. Mostly, this species is hairless, but for minute hairy lines extending downwards from the leaf nodes. Growing alternately on the stem, the leaves are elliptic to lanceolate with fine, hairlike protrusions from the margins. The inflorescence is either solitary or with twin spikes of compact white blooms. This inflorescence grows to 13 centimetres (51/8-inches) long and 0.3 centimetres (1/8-inch) wide. The fruit is ovoid, to 0.1 centimetres (1/32-inch) high.
Peperomia elongata is indigenous to northern South America. It has been found in French Guiana, Surinam, Venezuela and Colombia.
Peperomia fosteri
Vining Peperomia
The Vining Peperomia is an attractive creeper with whorls of thick foliage. Its main feature is the leaves, having light green veins on a dark background. Also, the slender red stems produce roots at the nodes to anchor it to its host plant.
This plant is indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Brazil.
Peperomia hoffmannii
This well-branched spreading plant has both ascending and descending stems. The succulent leaves are pale to bright-green, thick and leathery. They measure 0.6 centimetres (1/4-inch) long by 0.4 centimetres (3/16-inch) wide. These leaves have an obovate shape and are glabrous. Also, the plant produces a typical solitary flower spike. It is pale yellow-green and profusely covered with tiny flowers.
Found growing as a terrestrial or an epiphyte in Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil.
Peperomia leptostachya
This is a small growing species with slender, erect and finely hairy leaves and stems. The succulent leaves are usually opposite. The terminal spike is upright growing and creamy-white. It is densely covered with minute blooms. This spike grows to 8 centimetres (31/8-inches) high.
Keep in a moist atmosphere when the weather is warm.
They are native of the states of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It is also found in New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Hebrides and the Hawaiian Islands.
Peperomia obtusifolia
American Rubber Plant
Baby Rubber Plant
Pepper Face
This shrubby plant creeps along the host tree branch by means of stoloniferous stems. These stems produce roots at the lower nodes and ascending to about 15 centimetres (6-inches) high. Leaves are elliptic to obovate. Flower spikes are terminal or opposite the leaf joints. Usually they are solitary, but occasionally in pairs. These spikes grow to 15 centimetres (6-inches) tall and they are covered with minute flowers.
This plant grows as an epiphyte or as a terrestrial, from Mexico to northern South America and the West Indies.
Cultivar Gold Tips has leaves that are oblique and mottled pale yellow, more heavily mottled towards the tips.
Variety alba produces new growth that is cream. This variety has stems and petals spotted red.
Variety albo-marginata possesses leaves that are small, obovate and pale green with an irregular edge of cream.
Variety minima is a compact and dwarf variety with glossy leaves.
Variety variegata grows leaves that are more pointed, variegated pale green and marked with cream towards the margins. Stems are marked scarlet.
Peperomia prostrata
The small, circular leaves are bluish-grey or brown in colour, with distinct silvery markings.
This very attractive and rare species comes from the Colombian rainforests.
Peperomia rotundifolia
Very small, almost round leaves on this plant are fleshy and waxy, growing on threadlike stems.
It is indigenous to the West Indies, growing only as an epiphyte.
Syn. Peperomia numalarifolia.
Peperomia tetraphylla
This small epiphyte has fleshy stems and fleshy diamond shaped to round leaves that are light green, glabrous and glossy. They arrange their leaves in whorls of four. In addition, they produce tiny erect flower spikes. These are creamy-white, appearing in late spring and summer.
It is an interesting species that should be potted in a coarse potting mixture. Grow in a drought and frost free atmosphere that is moist in warm weather. Allow to dry out before watering.
This pantropical species grows in low, shady situations.
Syn. Peperomia reflexa.
First Page
List of Families
This is a diverse family of ferns that are mostly epiphytes. Sometimes the fronds are uniform in shape, but in other genera two types of fronds are present: one type of frond is for catching debris and clinging to the tree, the other type is for reproduction purposes.
Aglaomorpha.
The genus Aglaomorpha has about ten species. These are all large, coarse, epiphytic ferns forming spreading crowns. We may plant them in the ground, but they are better grown in hanging containers such as baskets or epi-logs. Scales on the rhizome are brown, and the base of the frond often widened and becoming brown and papery, this becomes a catchment area for food and moisture.
Aglaomorpha coronans
This is a striking epiphytic fern with a thick rhizomatous base. Light brown scales densely cover this rhizome, from which rise large, hard and leathery, fresh green fronds. They grow to 1 metre (40-inches) in length and 30 to 50 centimetres (12 to 20-inches) wide. Arranged in a circle, these fronds have a reddish midrib. At their base the fronds are winged, passing gradually into deep lobes.
Place this fern in good light, but not full sun. Further, keep it just on the dry side of moist.
This natural species grows from India to Malaya, across to south China, as far north as Taiwan, also south to the Philippine Islands.
Syn. Polypodium coronans.
Aglaomorpha goeringianum cultivar Pictum
Japanese Painted Fern
This fern is a colourful hardy plant with wine red fronds growing to 60 centimetres (24-inches) long. Each frond has a central band of grey-green, blending to green at the margins.
A frost hardy fern that is easy to grow if a well-drained potting mix is used. This plant likes good light but not strong sunlight.
This fern was discovered growing as an epiphyte on the islands of Japan.
Syn. Aglaomorpha niponium cultivar Pictum.
Aglaomorpha heraclea
Hercules Polypodium
Fronds grow to 2.5 metres (100-inches) long on this giant epiphytic fern. These fronds are carried on thick rhizomes, covered with silky, light brown scales. Often, these rhizomes climb spirally around big trees. The stalks have broad wings along the lower parts. Higher up, they broaden into fronds that are 65 centimetres (26-inches) wide and deeply lobed. They are light green, thin and leathery, with a puckered surface, also they have pointed tips that curl.
This fern likes warm, humid and airy conditions. In a cold climate, we should treat it as a greenhouse species.
Its natural habitat is Java, Philippines and New Guinea.
Syn. Polypodium dryraria.
Aglaomorpha meyeniana
Bears Paw Fern
Distinctive epiphyte with thick paw-like rhizomes, thickly covered with slender, brown, hairlike scales. The long, pinnate and glossy fronds, which are litter collectors, grow from 65 to 100 centimetres (26 to 40-inches) long. These fronds have broad, barren segments on the lower parts, while the upper one third bears narrow, tassel-like, fertile pinnae with prominent rounded brown sori on the pearly margins.
Grow in shady, warm greenhouse conditions away from sun as it is cold sensitive. Keep evenly moist in the warmer part of the year as it is then in need of humid conditions, but drier in the winter months as this is its dormant period. This fern is easily grown in a container that has a coarse epiphytic potting mixture.
This fern grows on rocks and trees in the rainforests of the Philippine Islands.
Syn. Polypodium meyenianum.
First Page
List of Families
This group of fern-like plants are either terrestrial or epiphytic. They are deprived of any roots or leaves. Aerial stems branch dichotomously. This family produces rhizomes with abundant rhizoids. Also, all spores are identical and contain both male and female gametes.
Psilotum.
Fork Ferns
Whisk Fern
Psilotum is a genus of plants that are not really ferns, but are more closely allied to the club moss group. Two species make up this genus. In both, the many creeping rhizomes are either upright or pendulous and forking often. The fronds are reduced to scales.
Psilotum complanatum
Rhizomes on this species are flat in transverse section. Stems grow to 70 centimetres (28-inches), these may be spreading or soft, limp and pendent. Branches are flattened, elliptic in cross section, with a distinct branch midrib. Young stems are dark green and often three angled with concave sides. Leaves are reduced to bristle-like structures, well seperated and arranged alternately down the margins. Spore cases grow to 1.5 millimetres (1/16-inch) in diameter. These are brown and tinged with yellow.
They can be found the states of Queensland, and New South Wales, Australia, growing on rocks and trees in rainforest areas.
Psilotum nudum
Skeleton Fork Fern
The rhizome is triangular in transverse section. Also, the stems grow to 60 centimetres (24-inches) long. They may be ascending or descending when terrestrial, generally ascending when epiphytic. The main stem is 2 to 4 millimetres (1/8-in. to 1/4-inch) in diameter near the base. These branches fork often, are triangular in cross section, and pale green in colour soon fading to dull yellow unless grown in a shaded place. Nevertheless, new growth is bronze. Occasionally, fertile rhizomes that are smaller and narrowly triangular in cross section are produced. Spore cases develop to 2 millimetres (1/8-inch) in diameter. Each is yellow or tinged brown.
This is a pantropical rainforest plant growing terrestrially or as an epiphyte in moist areas. It also grows in warm temperate America, Japan and from northern Queensland, down to Victoria, also through the Northern Territory, Australia.
First Page
List of Families
Coprosma.
These are a group of compact, twiggy shrubs, with possibly as many as ninety species. All grow as terrestrials. One also grows as an epiphyte.
Coprosma quadrifida
Prickly Current Bush
This tall shrub grows to 4 metres (13 feet) high when it is a terrestrial but much smaller growing as an epiphyte. It consists of spiny branches and small, lanceolate leaves that are smooth and dull. Produced on short stems are small and greenish, solitary flowers. These are followed by oval, bright red drupes growing to 8 millimetres (5/16-inch) long. This fruit is edible.
The Prickly Current Bush grows well in a wet, shady position in a cool area. Not often cultivated because of its prickly growth.
This epiphyte grows on tree ferns in cool, moist forests and gullies from New South Wales to Victoria and in Tasmania, Australia.
Hydnophytum.
Vicious green ants make their home in this caudiciforme type epiphyte. These ants pay for their home by protecting their host. Closely related to the genus Myrmecodia that also has ants to protect it.
Hydnophytum formicarium
This peculiar caudiciforme epiphyte is inhabited by ants. They have a smooth caudex, growing up to 12 centimetres in diameter, it has many branches with fleshy, oval leaves. The flowers are small and white, followed by red berries.
This unusual plant will survive in our collection without the ants. Because it is a moist tropical plant, we should grow it in a warm, moist and shady area.
These plants are indigenous to the tropical rainforest trees of Malaysia.
Myrmecodia.
The genus Myrmecodia consists of tropical pants that are very rare outside their natural habitat. Myrmecodia species are all caudiciforme epiphytes that attract ants to live inside them for protection, the same way as Hydnophytum.
This genus grows to its best with light-shade, in the moist, warm climate of the tropics. Nevertheless, it can be grown in a warm greenhouse in a moist atmosphere with good light, but not direct sunlight.
Myrmecodia anatonii
Ant Plant
This is an Australian epiphytic caudiciforme with a shrubby top. It lives in a symbiotic relationship with ferocious green ants.
Apparently, it can only be successfully grown as a true epiphyte, but can be cultivated without the ants being present.
It is indigenous to the north of Queensland, Australia.
Myrmecodia beccari
Anthouse Plant
This plant has a caudex, or large, swollen base and pendulous, vine like, fleshy branches to 150 centimetres (60-inches) long. With glossy green, elliptic leaves growing to 25 centimetres (10-inches) long.
Its natural habitat is tropical, northern Queensland, Australia.
Myrmecodia echinata
Spiny Ant Plant
This small shrub-like plant has a large, spiny caudex up to 16 centimetres across. From the top of the caudex fleshy stems arise. These have fleshy, oval leaves. The small white flowers are tubular, followed by red berries. The caudex has many hollows, which provide a nesting site for ferocious little ants. These ants have a symbiotic relationship with the plant. In return for their home, they protect the plant from predators. They also deposit organic matter in the caudex chambers that they inoculate with fungal spores. As this mixture decomposes, it feeds both the ants and the plants. The ants also disperse the seed and keep other epiphytes away from the host tree, therefor cutting down the competition.
These unusual epiphytes are indigenous to the rainforests of Malaysia and Singapore.
Myrmecodia platyrea
Similar in growth to Myrmecodia echinata, but the caudex is much flatter.
This species is a native of the tropical rainforests of New Guinea.
First Page
List of Families
Tmesipteris.
Fork Fern.
This is the only genus in the family and only seven species are known. Typical of the genus is the creeping rhizome that lacks roots. Also, it produces abundant rhizoids that are either upright or pendulous. Furthermore, the fronds are produced without stalks.
Tmesipteris billardiera
To identify this species, note the pod where the spores are produced. They should be sharply pointed at each end. Also, the stem bases are grooved on the upper surface only.
They grow as epiphytes on tree fern trunks in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Tmesipteris elongata
This species differs by having two to three fronds to each 1 centimetre (3/8-inch) of the rhizome. Also, the fronds look like the tips have been cut off.
Found growing in moist areas, this cool climate species is from the states of Victoria and Tasmania, Australia.
Tmesipteris lanceolata
This species also has two to three fronds to each 1 centimetre (3/8-inch) of the rhizome, but the frond apexes are pointed.
This is a moist tropical epiphyte from northern Queensland, Australia.
Tmesipteris ovata
This is a more compact species than the previous one with five to six straight fronds to each 1-centimetre (3/8-inch) of rhizome.
It grows in moist areas in the south of the state of Queensland, also in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia.
Tmesipteris parva
The major difference in this species is that it has five to six crescent shaped fronds, to each 1 cm. of the rhizome.
It grows as an epiphyte in the cooler areas of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia.
Tmesipteris truncata
The spore pod has wing-like structures, pointed as in Tmesipteris billardieri, but the stem bases are grooved on all sides and with smaller fronds.
Its distribution in its natural habitat is in the south of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.
First Page
List of Families
Antrophyum.
These are coarse ferns with entire fronds that are leathery and pendulous. The elongated sori develops along the veins. About forty species are known.
These ferns resent any disturbance and are very difficult to reestablish. They seem to grow most advantageously on a slab of tree fern or pot of sphagnum moss, kept in high humidity until well established. A warm and moist atmosphere is necessary, so outside the tropics, a warm greenhouse should be used.
Antrophyum plantagineum
As the name suggests, their leaves resemble the leaves of the genus Plantago. The short, creeping rhizome has pendulous fronds that are very broad, ovate and bright green, held up by a long stipe.
We can find it growing on rocks and occasionally on trees. That is, in its natural habitat in the far north of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.
Antrophyum reticulatum
The short, creeping rhizome has narrow, dark scales, but seems lost in the entanglement of dense, hairy roots. Its small, clumping fronds are simple and entire.
This tropical rainforest species is from northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Antrophyum subfalcatum
The greyish-green pendulous leaves are very narrow and sickle-shaped, tapering towards the base and held up on a short stipe.
They grow on rocks and trees in northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Monogramma dareicarpa
Grass Fern
This glass-like species has slender rhizomes covered in tiny scales. The fronds are well-spaced on the rhizome but look as if growing in patches as the rhizomes are crowded and overlapping in places. The sword shaped fronds open to 10 centimetres (4-inches) long and 2 centimetres (1-inch) wide. The midrib is the only veining noticed.
They grow as an epiphyte in the northern rainforests of Queensland, Australia.
Vaginularia angustissima
Grass Fern
This plant is easily mistaken for the genus Monogramma. The visible difference is in the veining, in Vaginularia the central rib has short lateral veins running parallel to it.
Found growing on trees in northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Vittaria elongata
Tape Fern
Short, creeping rhizomes on this species are covered with fine, brown to purple-black, hairlike scales. Sterile and fertile fronds are produced that maybe dark or light green. They are glass-like, from 4 to 60 centimetres (2 to 24-inches) long and semi-erect to drooping.
Found growing as an epiphyte on tree trunks or as a terrestrial plant in tropical and subtropical rainforests. Their natural home is near the coast and on the tablelands of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.