hareās-foot fern
Quick Summary
The hare's-foot fern refers to several fern species, most notably Davallia canariensis, known for its soft, gray, hairy rootstock. These ferns belong to the family Davalliaceae, which contains a single genus, Davallia, with about 65 species primarily found in tropical regions, especially the Old World.12
Some species are cultivated as ornamentals, often grown in hanging baskets where their hairy rhizomes become a prominent feature. These ferns are typically epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants. Their leaves vary in complexity, and their spore-producing structures, called sori, are usually found along the edges of leaflets and are covered by a protective flap.1
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