Whisk-fern
|
Psilotum nudum
|
Psilotaceae
|
Landscape Uses:
|
|
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
|
|
Availability: |
|
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. |
Description: |
|
Small herb, terrestrial or epiphytic. |
Height: |
|
About 6-12 inches in height. Usually taller than broad in small patches. |
Growth Rate: |
|
Moderate. |
Range: |
|
Southern United States west to Arizona and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and Old World. Very rare in the Monroe County Keys and perhaps absent from the middle Keys. |
Habitats: |
|
Moist forests and swamps. |
Soils: |
|
Epiphytic; or terrestrial in moist, well-drained humusy leaf litter, acid to neutral pH. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
|
Moderate; can grow on nutrient poor substrate, but needs some nutrient inputs to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
|
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
|
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
|
Moderate; requires moist substrate and high humidity to thrive. |
Light Requirements: |
|
Light shade. |
Flower Color: |
|
N/A. |
Flower Characteristics: |
|
There are no flowers; the plants reproduce by spores. |
Flowering Season: |
|
All year. |
Fruit: |
|
Inconspicuous spores. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
|
|
Horticultural Notes: |
|
Can be grown from seed and division. |
Comments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|