Wart fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria)

Features and Characteristics

Phymatosorus scolopendria, commonly called wart fern, is native to Africa, Australia, South East Asia and Polynesia. It is a strongly rhizomatous fern with pinnately lobed leaves. It will spread indefinitely. Deeply sunken sori on the frond undersides result in wart-like bumps on the uppersides, hence the common name. This fern crawls along the ground to form an excellent ground cover, but also will climb up walls, tree trunks and cover rocky areas. Fronds droop gracefully from hanging baskets. Wart fern will escape cultivation and naturalize. Although not native to Hawaii, it is probably the most commonly cultivated fern in Hawaii at this time. Synonymous with Microsorum scolopendria.

Specific epithet means millipede in reference to the rows of sori.