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Java Fern: the difference between "narrow" and "needle"

Started by magnosis, June 19, 2013, 01:22:46 PM

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magnosis

I've just recently been corrected on what I thought was "narrow leaf" java fern, vs "needle leaf" java fern.

Microsorum pteropus "Narrow" grows at a 90 degrees angle, and up to 14" high.
Microsorum pteropus "Needle" grows at a 45 degrees angle, and up to 4" high.

There is also Microsorum pteropus "Philippine" aka "Dwarf Java Fern" that stays failry short.

There seems to be quite a lot of mixup going on.  There's an "All about Microsorum" thread on TPT that states "needle leaf" grows between 10 and 30cm.  Whaaat?

Some aquarists who are showcased on http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/  (aka. AGA Aquascaping Contests) also seem to have have their nomenclature off.  Here's a few examples:
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010/show33.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010/show59.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2011/show94.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2012/show302.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2012/show98.html

Maybe it's a matter of trimming before it gets really big, or very intense lighting, but it really seems to me that those are "needle leaf" not "narrow leaf" ferns.

This one correctly states Microsorum pteropus 'needle leaf'
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010/show151.html

Anyone cares to pitch in? Am I getting this right?

magnosis

Quote from: magnosis on June 19, 2013, 01:22:46 PM
Some aquarists who are showcased on http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/  (aka. AGA Aquascaping Contests) also seem to have have their nomenclature off.  Here's a few examples:
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010/show33.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2010/show59.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2011/show94.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2012/show302.html
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2012/show98.html

On 2nd look (more like, 22nd look!) I think I've been fooled by some of these photos, in that what I thought I was was the whole plant, but in fact the stem is much deeper / closer to the substrate and I only see the tips of the ferns.

It would be nice to see the hardscape for tanks submitted to aga; that way the less experienced folk like me can see just how tall the plants really are ;)  Sometimes I can't tell if I'm trimming my plants correctly, too short or too tall.