Kingdom Plantae Order Polypodiales Scientific name Davallia Rank Genus | Division Pteridophyta Family Davalliaceae Higher classification Davalliaceae | |
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Similar Davalliaceae, Davallia canariensis, Davallia mariesii, Davallia fejeensis, Humata | ||
Davallia garden plants
Davallia (deersfoot fern, hare's foot fern, shinobu fern, rabbit foot fern, ball 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.
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Davallia as house plants
D. polypodiaceae, D. canariensis, D. fejeensis and D. trichomanoides are all grown as ornamental plants. D. fejeensis is the most common Davallia species in commerce, and D. canariensis is widely grown as a house plant.
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.
Selected species
