Land
Management Program at Archbold Biological Station
P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, FL 33862
Phone 863-465-2571 FAX 863-699-1927
E-mail: landmanager@archbold-station.org
Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)
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The compound leaflets of this fern are very wiry and tough.
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Fertile pinnules contain numerous spores that are distributed by the wind and facilitate the spread of this fern.
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Infertile leaf (left) and fertile leaves (right)
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Old World climbing fern covering bay and maple trees on the edge of a bayhead swamp on the NE section of Lake Annie
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Old World climbing fern produces dense mats of dead vines that
can become >3 feet deep and shade out all native vegetation.
One treatment method utilized at ABS to control this fern is to cut
the plant
about 2-3 off the ground and ball up all the lower parts,
and then spray the
living foliage with herbicide (typically 3% Roundup
or 3% Weedmaster).
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Mature patches of Old World climbing fern create mats of dead fronds that act to carry fire into the canopy.
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Photo Credits: Jeff Hutchinson
• Hutchinson, J.T.,
April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
• Webmaster: Fred Lohrer, email: webmaster@archbold-station.org
