L. microphyllum is a climbing fern, with long-creeping stems. Leaves to ca. 10-15 mm on petioles borne 2-5 mm apart, 7-25 cm long, with sterile and fertile pinnae. Sterile pinnae on 0.5-1.5 cm stalks, oblong, 1-pinnate, 5-12 × 3-6 cm;ultimate segments triangular-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, truncate to shallowly cordate or somewhat auriculate proximally, usually not lobed, but if lobed, lobes rounded at apex and not directed toward leaf apex;segment apex rounded-acute to obtuse;segments articulate to petiolules, leaving wiry stalks when detached;blade tissue glabrous abaxially. Fertile pinnae on 0.5-1.0 cm stalks, oblong, 1-pinnate, 3-14 × 2.5-6 cm;ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate-oblong, fringed with fertile lobes, otherwise similar to sterile segments (Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 2015).
Related invasive species
- Lygodium microphyllum
Related Farm Practice
- Flora
L. microphyllum is a species of climbing fern native to large parts of tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Oceania. This species was originally introduced into the USA for ornamental purposes in the mid-1900s. However, it has aggressively invaded forest dominated wetlands, notably in southern and central Florida, USA where it is one of the most important invasive species. This climbing fern causes significant ecological impacts, forming thick mats which climb over and smother undergrowth, shrubs and even tall trees and modify fire regimes so that ground fires are carried into the forest canopy.