Davallia

Davallia
Davallia canariensis in cultivation
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Family:	Davalliaceae
Genus:	Davallia
Species
See text

"Hare's Foot" on sandstone, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia

Davallia canariensis showing the rhizomes

Davallia (deersfoot fern, hare's foot fern) is a genus of about 40 species of ferns in the family Davalliaceae. They are epiphytic ferns, with fronds arising from long aerial rhizomes which grow on and over thick bark on trees or on rock crevices.

Davallia as house plants

D. polypodiaceae, D. canariensis, D. fejeensis and D. trichomanoides are all grown as ornamental plants.^[1] D. fejeensis is the most common Davallia species in commerce, and D. canariensis is widely grown as a house plant.^[1]

The plants have furry rhizomes which cover the surface of the potting mixture as well as root down into it. The fronds are triangular in shape and about 1½ feet long by 1 foot wide. They divide into three to four pinnae which subdivide into many pinnules. Davallia are often used in hanging baskets because the rhizomes split into sections and the surface is covered quickly. Unlike other ferns, Davallia tolerate low levels of humidity.^[2]

Selected species

• Davallia bullata - Japan, China, and tropical Asia.
• Davallia canariensis - Canary Islands to Spain and north Africa.
• Davallia divaricata (syn.: Davallia polyantha) - Tropical Asia.
• Davallia fejeensis Hook (syn.: Davallia fijiensis) - Fiji Islands and Australia.
• Davallia mariesii or "Squirrel's-foot fern" – tropical Asia and Malaysia
• Davallia solida - Malaysia, Polynesia, and Queensland.
  • Davallia solida var. pyxidata - New South Wales
  • Davallia solida var. fejeensis (Hook.) Noot. - endemic to Fiji
• Davallia tasmanii - Davallia fern, native to the Three Kings Islands.
• Davallia trichomanoides (syn.: Davallia dissecta) - Malaysia.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Perry, Leonard, Davillia, http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/ferndav.html
2. ^ Reader's Digest. Success with House Plants. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. 1979:173

• (Portuguese) Lorenzi, H. & Souza, M. S. (2001). Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil: arbustivas, herbáceas e trepadeiras. Plantarum ISBN 85-86714-12-7
• (Spanish) Key, K. & Baines, J. (1974). El ABC de las Plantas de Interior. Blume ISBN 84-7214-055-5
• (Spanish) Hay, R., McQuown G., & Beckett, K. (1976). Diccionario ilustrado en color de plantas de interior. Gustavo Gili ISBN 0828856117
• Hellyer, A. (1976). The Collingridge Encyclopedia of Gardening. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-31765-X