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:


Joe Montes de Oca via iNaturalist.
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
George D. Gann
George D. Gann
Joe Montes de Oca via iNaturalist.