| Giant Fern | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pteridophyta |
| Class: | Marattiopsida |
| Order: | Marattiales |
| Family: | Marattiaceae |
| Genus: | Angiopteris |
| Species: | A. evecta |
| Binomial name | |
| Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm. |
|
| Synonyms | |
Angiopteris evecta, commonly known as the Giant Fern, is a rare plant occurring in eastern and northern Australia. Also found growing in nearby islands such as New Guinea and various places in Polynesia and Melanesia.[1] Listed as endangered in New South Wales, where it has been recorded growing in sub tropical rainforest, in the valley of the Tweed River.[2] It is an invasive species in Jamaica.
Angiopteris evecta is the type species of the genus Angiopteris. It was originally described as Polypodium evectum by Georg Forster in 1786,[3] before being reclassified and given its current binomial name in 1796 by Georg Franz Hoffmann.[4] The species name is the Latin adjective evectus "swollen" or "inflated".[5] Common names include giant fern , king fern, oriental vessel fern, and mule's foot fern.
The huge mature fronds measure up to 8 metres (25 ft) long. They originate from a large thick rootstock, up to 80 cm (32 in) high.
Angiopteris evecta can be grown in well-drained moist sites in the garden with some shade. It is unable to be propagated by spores but the lobes from the frond base can be removed and will form a new plant in around a year in a medium of sand and peat.[5]