King Fern

angiopteris evecta

The King Fern (Angiopteris evecta), also known as the giant fern or elephant fern, is an ancient, awe-inspiring plant that has survived since the Carboniferous period. Featuring some of the largest fronds of any fern in the world, this botanical giant creates a majestic, prehistoric atmosphere wherever it grows. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Madagascar, where it thrives in moist, sheltered ravines. Because of its massive size and evolutionary age, the King Fern is often referred to as a living fossil. It plays a vital role in its ecosystem by stabilizing wet soils and providing dense cover for small forest creatures.

Habitat: Found in deep, sheltered rainforest gullies, wet ravines, and near stream banks with high humidity and filtered sunlight.

Appearance

This spectacular fern is characterized by its massive, fleshy rhizome, which forms a thick, trunk-like base that can reach up to 1 meter in height. Emerging from this base are enormous, glossy-green, bipinnate fronds that arch gracefully and can measure up to 6 to 9 meters in length. The petioles (leaf stalks) are thick, swollen at the base, and can be up to 10 centimeters in diameter, resembling elephant legs. On the underside of mature leaves, double rows of brown, spore-bearing structures called sporangia line the margins.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderMarattialesFamilyMarattiaceaeGenusAngiopteris

King Fern

Interesting facts

In some Pacific cultures, the starchy, fleshy rhizome was baked in earth ovens and eaten during times of extreme food scarcity.

Its fronds are among the longest of any fern in the world, occasionally reaching up to 9 meters in length.

The King Fern is a true living fossil, with ancestry tracing back over 300 million years to the Carboniferous period.

Special abilities

Utilizes intense turgor pressure within its massive, water-filled fleshy petioles to keep its giant fronds upright instead of relying on woody tissue.

Features large, fleshy stipules at the base of each frond that store water and nutrients, helping the fern survive dry spells.

Produces millions of microscopic spores on the underside of its leaves, which are easily dispersed by wind and water to colonize new moist sites.

Measurements & details

Length: 300-900 cm
Weight: 50-600 kg
Lifespan: 50-150 years

Diet & Feeding

As a photoautotrophic plant, the King Fern synthesizes its own food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil nutrients.

Primary Foods

Sunlight
Water
Carbon Dioxide
Soil Nitrogen
Phosphorus

Foraging Method

Photosynthesis

Ecological connections

mutualism

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Glomus spp.

Fungi in the soil form symbiotic relationships with the fern roots to enhance nutrient uptake.

eaten by

Feral Pig

Sus scrofa

Introduced pigs dig up and consume the nutrient-rich, fleshy rhizomes, severely damaging the plant.

competitor

Bird's Nest Fern

Asplenium nidus

Competes for space, light, and nutrients in moist, shaded tropical rainforest understories.

Traits

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Also known as

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify King Fern?

The easiest way to identify King Fern is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is King Fern?

300-900 cm

How much does King Fern weigh?

50-600 kg

How long does King Fern live?

50-150 years

What does King Fern eat?

As a photoautotrophic plant, the King Fern synthesizes its own food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil nutrients.

Where is King Fern usually found?

Found in deep, sheltered rainforest gullies, wet ravines, and near stream banks with high humidity and filtered sunlight.

How does King Fern hunt?

Photosynthesis