''Lygodium microphyllum'' (commonly known as, variously, climbing maidenhair fern, Old World climbing fern, small-leaf climbing fern, or snake fern) is a climbing fern originating in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, Melanesia and Australia. It is an invasive weed in Florida where it invades open forest and wetland areas. The type specimen was collected in the vicinity of Nabúa, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines by Luis Née.

Distribution

''Lygodium microphyllum'' is native to much of tropical Africa and South Africa; tropical Asia, including China, Ryukyu Islands of Japan; Australia; Fiji, the

Mariana Islands The Mariana Islands (; also the Marianas; in Chamorro: ''Manislan Mariånas'') are a crescent-shaped archipelago comprising the summits of fifteen longitudinally oriented, mostly dormant volcanic mountains in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, betw ...

and Caroline Islands. ''Lygodium microphyllum'' has become

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...

in the Caribbean and

South Florida South Florida is the southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the other two are Central Florida and North Florida. South Florida is the southernmost part of th ...

Effects on the environment

''Lygodium microphyllum'' causes problems in the environments where it is

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

. The plant damages wetland ecosystems, harming endangered species. The ferns ability to grow up and over trees and shrubs and to form dense horizontal canopies allows it to cover whole communities of plants, reducing native plant diversity. Old World climbing fern can grow in many diverse ecosystems. ''Lygodium microphyllum'' poses problems for fires, both natural and man-made, because it can lead fire into the tree canopy, killing trees. The fern rapidly spread in South Florida's public conservation lands.

Containment

Recently, the USDA approved the use of insects to keep the fern contained. Insects ('' Austromusotima camptozonale'', ''

Neomusotima conspurcatalis ''Neomusotima conspurcatalis'' is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by William Warren in 1896. It is found in India, Indonesia, East Timor and Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sove ...

'') and mites ('' Floracarus perrepae'') have been released in several state parks to control the fern. Although some populations were devastated by a bout of cold weather, recently, reports of new activity have been made.

Ethnobotany

''Lygodium microphyllum'' has been used locally in folk medicine to treat skin ailments and problems, swelling and dysentery.

Other uses

''Lygodium microphyllum'' fibers (as well as other species of '' Lygodium''), known as ''nito'', are used to weave traditional salakot hats in the Philippines.

References

External links

*
Species Profile - Old World Climbing Fern (''Lygodium microphyllum'')
National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Old World Climbing Fern.
"Old World Climbing Fern (''Lygodium microphyllum''), a Dangerous Invasive Weed in Florida,"
''American Fern Journal'' Vol. 88 No. 4 (1998) *

'' South Florida Sun Sentinel, 2018

Bibliography

* Jeffrey T. Hutchinson, Kenneth A. Langeland, Gregory E. MacDonald and Robert Querns, 2010; ''Absorption and Translocation of Glyphosate, Metsulfuron, and Triclopyr in Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)''. Weed Science 58:2, 118-125 Online publication date : 1-Apr-2010
abstract
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5235063 microphyllum Ferns of Africa Ferns of Asia Ferns of Australasia Plants described in 1801 Flora of Africa Flora of tropical Asia Flora of Australia Flora of China Flora of Fiji Flora of Japan Flora of the Ryukyu Islands Flora of the Northwestern Pacific Flora of Taiwan Taxa named by Antonio José Cavanilles