Microsorum pteropus "Orange Narrow"

This Java fern variant has spread among some hobbyists in Germany in recent years as Microsorum pteropus "Orange". It is presented here under the more precisely descriptive name "Orange Narrow". This form of Microsorum pteropus probably comes from a collection by Holger Windeløv and/or Claus Christensen (Denmark) and was possibly found in the south of Thailand.

Similar to M. pteropus 'Red' from Southern Thailand, the tips and the midrib of the young, emerging leaves are brownish orange or light reddish brown. However, Microsorum pteropus "Orange Narrow" has distinctly narrower leaves and stays smaller than the broad-leaved M. pteropus 'Red', which grows very large. "Orange Narrow" does, however, grow somewhat larger and broader-leaved than the otherwise similar, green-coloured M. pteropus 'Narrow'.

The leaves grow up to about 30 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Mature leaves are a medium green. The upper side of the narrowly lanceolate leaves is relatively smooth, i.e. the finer venation does not stand out on the upper side as strongly as in some other Java ferns. Mostly the leaves are simple (undivided), but on old, vigorous plants leaves with one or two narrow lobes at the blade base may occasionally develop.

So far, no sporangial clusters (sori) have been found on the underside of the leaves of M. pteropus "Orange Narrow". This Java fern variant may possibly be sterile (it develops no spores and can only reproduce asexually). As in other Java ferns, however, plantlets develop on old leaves at the places where the sori otherwise sit.

The rhizome is relatively thin and tends to grow ascending.

(For more see "Culture")