| old world climbing fern |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: LYMI USDA ARS GRIN: 403434 ITIS: 17984 NAPIS: PQBQBQC |
| Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Filicopsida: Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae |
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| Synonym(s): small leaf climbing fern | |
Old world climbing fern, an aggressive invader in southern Florida, is a perennial climbing fern that can reach lengths of more than 90 ft. (30 m). Vines are thin, wiry, and remain green throughout winter. The fronds (leaves of a fern) are opposite, singly compound, 2-5 in. (5-12 cm) long with thick, usually unlobed leaflets. Fertile fronds have lobes around the margin, where sporangia are covered with rolled leaf tissue. Old world climbing fern is a serious invader of swamps, glades, and hammocks. It can form dense mats that smother understory vegetation, shrubs and trees. Old word climbing fern also increases fire risks. Thick mats of dead fronds that grow into trees act as fire ladders, bringing the fires into the tree canopies. Old world climbing fern is native to Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia and was first found naturalized in the United States in 1965. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Management Plan - Florida EPPC
- Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Seedling(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Underside of spore-bearing leaflets of Old World climbing fern. Some leaflets produce spores; others don't. Spores can be carried by the wind to start new infestations. Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Fertile fronds Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Miami-Dade County, Florida Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Miami-Dade County, Florida Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Old World climbing fern growing on cypress trees in southern Florida. The weed forms huge skirts that fires can climb to reach tree tops. Trees without the fern usually survive fire. Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Entomologist Robert Pemberton observes invasive Old World climbing fern overtaking cypress trees in southern Florida. Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Prescribed Fire; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Post Treatment, Everglades National Park, Florida Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Archbold Biological Station
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- National Wildlife Refuge Association, Silent Invasion: A Call to Action from the National Wildlife Refuge Association, 2002. Washington DC. 17 pp.
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Noxious Weeds Class A Noxious Weed
- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category I
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
- Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area - EARLY DRAFT
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