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Ovate maiden fern
Thelypteris ovata
Thelypteridaceae
 

Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal

General Landscape Uses: Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Availability: Grown by enthusiasts.

Description: Large herbaceous fern.

Dimensions: About 3-4 feet in height. Spreading and forming patches broader than tall.

Growth Rate: Moderate.

Range: Southeastern United States south to Pasco, Lake and Seminole counties (disjunct in Miami-Dade and Broward counties); Bahamas. In Broward County, known only from Fern Forest Nature Center.

Plant Map Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Moist forests.

Soils: Wet to moist limestone or sandy soils, with humusy top layer.

Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.

Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.

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.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from spores with difficulty, and division.


Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal

Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal

Copyright by: Mike Rosenthal


Other data on Thelypteris ovata available from:



 
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