Plant
Climbing Fern
Lygodium microphyllumAlso known as Old World Climbing Fern, Small-leaf Climbing Fern
Old World climbing fern smothers native vegetation by growing as a climbing vine that scales tree canopies up to thirty meters high. Its light green, delicate fronds form dense leafy curtains that block sunlight from understory plants and alter natural fire regimes. Microscopic wind-blown spores allow this aggressive perennial to rapidly colonize cypress swamps and moist pine flatwoods.
InvasiveVineFern
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
Predators
- Lygodium Sawfly
- Lygodium Moth
- Brown Lygodium Moth
ThreatsHerbicides, prescribed fire, biological control agents
HabitatsWetlands, cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, tropical rainforests
Life spanPerennial
Classification
- FamilyLygodiaceae
- SpeciesLygodium microphyllum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Prevent Spread: Clean boots and gear thoroughly after hiking in infested areas to avoid carrying microscopic spores.
- Vessel Trait: Notice how the main stem twines continuously around trees without true woody trunks.
Herbivore (c) David Dodd, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Dodd · cc-by
Co-occurring Fern (c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Greg Tasney · cc-by-sa
Host Tree (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
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