Pellaea calomelanos (Sw.) Link

Hard Fern

Rhizome short-creeping with pale-bordered black scales. Fronds in clusters, mostly erect but sometimes arching, divided 1-2 times at the base. Stalk thick, shiny, black, hairless except sometimes with a few hairs at the base. Blade narrowly ovate to triangular in outline. Segments more or less triangular and arrow-shaped with 3 or sometimes 5 points, thick, waxy blue to green with black stalks. Sori all round segments except sometimes at the tip.

Needs shelter and warmth. Rarely cultivated.

Spain, Africa, Madagascar, N India, Mascarenes

Blue-green equal-sized segments that are more or less triangular and arrow-shaped with 3 to 5 points.

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Adiantaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

Hero image
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Polypodiopsida
order     Polypodiales
family      Pteridaceae
genus       Pellaea Link