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Microsorum punctatum (L.) Copel.

Family Name:	Polypodiaceae
Synonyms:	Polypodium polycarpon Cav., Pleopeltis punctata (L.) Bedd., Pleopeltis irioides T.Moore
Common Name:	Fishtail Fern, Crested Fern, Keluwah, 星蕨

Microsorum punctatum or Fishtail Fern is a fern native to Singapore. The Fishtail Fern can be found growing as an epiphyte, terrestrial plant or on surfaces of rocks. The simple fronds are leathery, produced closely together along the short-creeping rhizomes covered in lattice-like, spoon to triangular-shaped scales. Sori are small, round, scattered along the veinlets on the underside.

Full Shade

Semi Shade

Little Water

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Indoor Plant

Suitable for Hanging Baskets

Ferns and Lycophytes

Epiphyte

Herbaceous Plant

Lithophyte

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Ferns & Lycophytes (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Fern)
Plant Growth Form	Epiphyte, Lithophyte, Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition

Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Tropical Africa and Asia, and Subtropics
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Inland Cliff, Agricultural Land, Secondary Rainforest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a fern with short-creeping rhizomes, can be found as an epiphyte, terrestrial plant or grown on surfaces of rocks.
Foliage	Fronds are produced close together, thick, leathery, narrowly egg-shaped, elliptic, spoon to lance-shaped, variable in length up to 1.75 m long, 15 cm wide. The mid rib is raised on both surfaces of the fronds. The edge of the foliage vary from smooth, wavy or irregularly lobed.
Reproductive Parts - non-flowering plant	The sori are small, round, scattered along the veinlets on the underside, measuring 0.2 - 0.5 cm wide.

Others - Plant Morphology	The rhizomes are slender, short-creeping covered in lattice-like scales. The scales are spoon-shaped to triangular shaped, measuring 1.5 - 8 mm long by 0.5 - 3 mm wide.
Habitat	Occurs in various types of forest, sometimes in savannah but also in wet places in streambeds, altitude to 2800 m. <1,2>
Etymology	Genus Microsorum refers to the small-sized sori. Species punctatum means "with a pock-marked surface or spotted".

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Skyrise / Balcony, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting, Suitable for Hanging Baskets
Thematic Landscaping	Naturalistic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Shade, [Remarks] (Does best if grown in semi shade, but will tolerate being grown in full sun, or in heavily shaded areas)
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Little Water, [Remarks] (This species is able to tolerate short periods of drought / dryness at the root zones, but will thrive in areas with good humidity and/or moisture levels.)
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Disease / Pest Resistant, Easy to Grow, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Spore, Division

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green - Light Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Lanceolate, Oblong, Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute, Rounded
Foliar Base	Cordate, Auriculate, Attenuate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s)	Underground (Rhizome)

References

References	<1> Hovenkamp P.H. (1998). Microsorum. In: Hovenkamp, P.H. (ed.) Polypodiaceae. Flora Malesiana, ser. 2, Pteridophyta, vol. 3, pp. 121 - 123. Leiden: Rijksherbarium. <2> Tagawa, M & Iwatsuki, K. (1989). Flora of Thailand, Vol. 3(4), pp. 528-529. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

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Master ID	31534
Species ID	5933
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.