Phlebodium aureum, Frond

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 23 November 2008 in Plant & Nature.

Phlebodium aureum is an easy to grow, tropical fern with bluish-green fronds. It tolerates dryer habitats and is a nearly perfect indoor plant. Nearly perfect, as it can get quite invasive: I bought one, a year later I had three, and both of the new ones are now as big as the original plant when I purchased it. An eager conqueror of your windowsill, it asks for more light than the Cologne Botanical Garden, where I took this photo, allowed this plant to have.

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Comments (11)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

A kind of floral sentry. Excellent detail.

23 Nov 2008 12:03pm

@Michael Skorulski: Thanks, Michael! I was astonished that they grow their plants under quite dark light conditions. My Phlebodiums enjoy full sun - and they like it. :-)

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Lovely detail. This is a very good composition and I really like the muted tones of the fern.

23 Nov 2008 1:59pm

@Laurie: Thanks, Laurie! The composition happened by chance, the tones are built from the cuticula, a waxy layer around the leaf surface that protects the fern from drying out. If you scrub it gently away, the leaf turns out to be green.

PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States

NIce comp. It does look like a sturdy leaf.

23 Nov 2008 2:54pm

@PD: There are many varieties. The one I have at home is more floppy and has crested leaves.

Mohammadreza Rezania from Tehran, Iran

nice tones, sharp details, beautiful composition ...

23 Nov 2008 3:15pm

@Mohammadreza Rezania: Thanks very much, Mohammadreza!

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

It looks a very strong plant - as you have said, maybe you can sell some seeds ?

23 Nov 2008 3:31pm

@Observing: Sell!? Fern spores? You must be kidding! Send me your address and I'll send you back a screw of spores. :-D (Though I have to admit that England is so blessed with special and unusual fern varieties, that I wouldn't dare to ask if you could send me some spores of this and that species... :-D )

Pradeep from Chennai, India

Wow!! Love the symmetry, detail and colors...in that order :)

23 Nov 2008 4:46pm

@Pradeep: Thanks a lot, Pradeep! Just discovered the wonderful pictures on your blog... :-)

Alphons from Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

Very nice graphical picture, in a special colour.

23 Nov 2008 10:56pm

@Alphons: Many thanks, Alphons!

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

Strange plant it seems to have arms.

24 Nov 2008 1:58am

@JoeB: Plenty of them! Thanks!

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Nice details of this fern leaf.

24 Nov 2008 2:28am

@akarui: The underside would have even been more interesting, as they carry the spore capsules.

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Well fern-ished.

25 Nov 2008 4:57am

@Twelvebit: It always draws me into the shady areas.

Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa

Very interesting shapes and texture, nice closeup!

25 Nov 2008 9:09pm

@Ina: Should be possible to grow also in your garden...

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