Plants › Ferns

Tongue fern (Pyrrosia lingua)

Pyrrosia lingua is a perennial evergreen fern that can grow epiphytically on tree trunks, on rocks, or as ground cover, and it has a long creeping rhizome.

LightIt is reported to tolerate low-light conditions. It is generally described as tolerant of part sun.

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Overview

Pyrrosia lingua is a perennial evergreen fern that can grow epiphytically on tree trunks, on rocks, or as ground cover, and it has a long creeping rhizome.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, describing the species as occurring from East Asia into Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia, including China, Japan, Taiwan, the southern Korean Peninsula, Bhutan, Cambodia, eastern India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam; the Taiwan species checklist regards it as native to Taiwan. It can grow epiphytically on bark and tree trunks or on rocks, is often found in relatively dry forests, and sometimes forms ground cover. It is reported to be adapted to warm-temperate, tropical, and subtropical environments in Asia and can grow in relatively dry forests.

Characteristics

Sources differ, but the mature height is reported at about 30–45.72 cm. It is reported to grow slowly and has a creeping rhizome. Sources differ in their descriptions of the leaves: they are stalked, simple, thick and leathery, ranging from elliptic and ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, with fine stellate hairs that some sources describe as especially conspicuous on the lower surface; fertile and sterile leaves are somewhat dimorphic, and 'Variegata' has yellow markings along the veins.

Light

It is reported to tolerate low-light conditions. It is generally described as tolerant of part sun.

Growing medium and mounting

For container growing, a medium containing orchid bark is reported to be suitable.

Propagation

Bright yellow spores are reported to appear later in the year. Propagation by division is reported to be easier.

Common problems

It is reported to have some drought tolerance.

Identification

'Variegata' is reported to be distinguished mainly by yellow markings along the leaf veins, while the species also has thick, leathery simple leaves, stellate hairs, and a creeping rhizome.

Photos

Sources

Wikipedia (en): Pyrrosia lingua — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
Wikipedia (ja): ヒトツバ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
Wikipedia (fr): Pyrrosia lingua — CC BY-SA 4.0 · link
NC State Plant Toolbox: Pyrrosia lingua — copyright (facts only) · link
TaiCOL 臺灣物種名錄: Pyrrosia lingua — CC BY 4.0 · link