How to Grow and Care for Arachniodes

Prickly shield fern is a slow-growing evergreen fern found on dry forest floors in Japan, Korea, China, India, Southeast Asia, Malesia, Polynesia, and New Zealand. The specific epithet comes from a Latin word meaning “bearing a bristle.”

Rhizomes are short and hard, extending sideways or standing diagonally. The scales are attached to the base of the rhizome and petiole. The scales are linear lanceolate, 2 to 8 mm in length and less than 1 mm in width, brown, with hair on the edges. The petiole is 25 to 45 cm long, pale straw in color, and its base is thickened to make the scale slightly denser. The leaf blade is twice pinnate compound leaf. The whole shape is oval oblong, 30 to 40 cm long and 15 to 35 cm wide. The side wings develop clearly in the lower 3-5 pairs, but from there on, the wings suddenly become shorter, forming a top wing similar to the side wings. Each wing has a handle and a linear lanceolate shape, with the widest base and tapering toward the tip. In the lower wing, the small wing at the base of the base develops like a small wing. The tip of the winglet is hard and sharp, with a shallow serrated edge. The leaf surface is green, and some plants have whitish spots along the feather axis. The sporangia emerges at the midpoint between the middle rib and the rim of the winglet, and the spore membrane has a round kidney shape and the rim is smooth or slightly wavy.

Miquel's bristle fern features evergreen, glossy fronds that uncurl from a central rosette, giving a lush appearance. Its leaves are intricately divided, resembling a delicate web, which may inspire its name. Adaptable to shaded forest understories, miquel's bristle fern thrives in moist, well-drained soil, often contributing to the rich tapestry of ferns in its native habitat.

Attractive hollyfern is a charming evergreen fern, showcasing broad, triangular fronds that arch gracefully. With a deep green sheen, its foliage often exhibits a lacy appearance due to delicate and finely divided leaflets, which can resemble spider webs, inspiring its name. Thriving in moist, shaded forest environments, this species underlines the intricate beauty of understorey plant life, resilient yet requiring protection from harsh sunlight.

Arachniodes speciosa is a striking evergreen fern with intricate fronds that resemble spider webs, hence its name. It thrives in the dappled light of forest understories where humidity is high. This fern's glossy, deep green leaves feature bold streaks of lighter green, and its leathery texture allows it to conserve moisture, offering resilience in its shaded, moist habitat.