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Fishbone Fern

Nephrolepis cordifolia

The Fishbone Fern is a lovely green plant with long, wavy leaves that look like fish bones! It's great for adding a splash of nature to your home or garden.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Fishbone Fern has long, slender fronds that are a vibrant green, with many small, oval leaflets arranged neatly along a central stem, resembling the bones of a fish. Its fronds can grow quite long, giving the plant a graceful, arching appearance. This fern's compact growth often creates a bushy mound, setting it apart from more feathery fern types.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyNephrolepidaceaeGenusNephrolepis
Fishbone Fern
Photo: Forest & Kim StarrCC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
ornamental trait badgeshade tolerant trait badgeevergreen trait badgerapid growing trait badge
Fishbone Fern

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

2

Interesting facts

Ferns like this one were growing on Earth even before dinosaurs roamed!

Instead of seeds, this fern makes super tiny, dust-like spores to reproduce!

Its unique 'fishbone' fronds inspired its common name, a perfect match!

You might find tiny brown bumps under its leaves; those are spore cases!

Special abilities

Ability

Water Storage Power

Fishbone Fern can grow small, round tubers underground that store water and nutrients, helping it survive dry periods.

Ability

Spore Shooter

This fern reproduces by releasing tiny spores from the underside of its fronds, which can travel far and grow new plants.

Ability

Rapid Spreader

The Fishbone Fern can quickly spread across areas using underground stems called rhizomes, making it a fast colonizer.

Measurements & details

Height
30-90 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Fishbone Fern?

Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Fishbone Fern?

30-90 cm

How wide does Fishbone Fern spread?

30-60 cm

Is Fishbone Fern edible?

No

Is Fishbone Fern toxic?

None

What is Fishbone Fern's lifecycle?

Perennial

Where is Fishbone Fern usually found?

Forests

Snap Map

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