Lygodium microphyllum explained

Lygodium microphyllum (commonly known as, variously, climbing maidenhair fern, Old World climbing fern, small-leaf climbing fern, or snake fern) is a climbing fern originating in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, Melanesia and Australia. It is an invasive weed[1] in Florida[2] where it invades open forest and wetland areas. The type specimen was collected in the vicinity of Nabúa, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines by Luis Née.[3]

Distribution

Lygodium microphyllum is native to much of tropical Africa and South Africa; tropical Asia, including China, Ryukyu Islands of Japan; Australia; Fiji, the Mariana Islands and Caroline Islands.

Lygodium microphyllum has become naturalized in the Caribbean and South Florida.

Effects on the environment

Lygodium microphyllum causes problems in the environments where it is invasive. The plant damages wetland ecosystems, harming endangered species.[4] The ferns ability to grow up and over trees and shrubs and to form dense horizontal canopies allows it to cover whole communities of plants, reducing native plant diversity. Old World climbing fern can grow in many diverse ecosystems. Lygodium microphyllum poses problems for fires, both natural and man-made, because it can lead fire into the tree canopy, killing trees.[5] The fern rapidly spread in South Florida's public conservation lands.[6]

Containment

Recently, the USDA approved the use of insects to keep the fern contained. Insects (Austromusotima camptozonale, Neomusotima conspurcatalis) and mites (Floracarus perrepae) have been released in several state parks to control the fern. Although some populations were devastated by a bout of cold weather, recently, reports of new activity have been made.

Ethnobotany

Lygodium microphyllum has been used locally in folk medicine to treat skin ailments and problems, swelling and dysentery.[7]

Other uses

Lygodium microphyllum fibers (as well as other species of Lygodium), known as nito, are used to weave traditional salakot hats in the Philippines.[8] [9]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Global Fire Initiative: Fire and Invasives . The Nature Conservancy . 2008-12-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090412054533/http://www.tncfire.org/crosscutting_fandi.htm . 2009-04-12 .
  2. Soti. Pushpa G.. Jayachandran. Krish. Koptur. Suzanne. Volin. John C.. Effect of soil pH on growth, nutrient uptake, and mycorrhizal colonization in exotic invasive Lygodium microphyllum . Plant Ecology. 2015. 216. 7. 989–998. 10.1007/s11258-015-0484-6. 17894584.
  3. Web site: Name - Ugena microphylla Cav. . Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Garden . Saint Louis, Missouri . November 2, 2011.
  4. Current status of the biological control agent Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on Lygodium microphyllum (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae) in Florida . Smith. Melissa C . Lake. Pratt. Boughton. Pumberton . June 2014 . Florida Entomologist . 97 . 2 . 817–820 . 10.1653/024.097.0268 . 24362579. free .
  5. Austromusotima camptozonale (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) herbivory results in frond and rhizome mortality of the invasive fern Lygodium microphyllum (Schizaeles: Lygodiaceae). Rayamajhi. Min B . Pratt. Paul D. Leidi. Jorge. Center. Ted D . December 2014. Florida Entomologist . 97 . 4 . 1308–1316 . 10.1653/024.097.0405 . 24364092 . free.
  6. Web site: Weed alert: Old World climbing fern. November 30, 2020. myFWC.com . Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  7. Web site: James A. Duke . Lygodium microphyllum (SCHIZAEACEAE) . Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases . November 2, 2011. James A. Duke .
  8. Book: Salakot and Other Headgear . ICHCAP, UNESCO .
  9. Web site: Lygodium (PROSEA) . Pl@ntUse . 3 March 2020.

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