SafePlants

Hymenophyllum: The Filmy Fern

Hymenophyllum is a genus of ferns belonging to the family Hymenophyllaceae, commonly known as filmy ferns.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that some filmy ferns have thin, membranous fronds.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Hymenophyllum
• Family: Hymenophyllaceae (filmy fern family)
• Genus: Hymenophyllum Sm.
• Species examples:
  • Hymenophyllum axillare Sw. (Axillary Filmy Fern)
  • Hymenophyllum asplenioides (Caribbean Filmy Fern)
  • Hymenophyllum brevifrons Kunze (Antilles Filmy Fern)
  • Hymenophyllum australe (Austral Filmy-fern)
  • Hymenophyllum lanatum Fe (Woolly Filmy Fern)
• Synonyms/Alternative Names: The name Hymenophyllum means "membrane-leaf".

Distribution and Habitat

• Filmy ferns have an almost worldwide distribution, particularly in temperate rainforests and mountain cloud forests.
• They are mostly found in the tropics.
• India is noted to have 40 species and 2 varieties.
• Specific locations mentioned include Bewcastle Fells in northeast Cumbria and South India.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Filmy ferns are often diminutive plants.
• Their fronds are usually small.
• They can be epiphytic, growing on other plants.
• Filmy ferns are known for their thin, membranous fronds, often only one cell layer thick.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Filmy ferns can grow on the leaves of other plants as epiphytes.

Additional Information

• Axillary branching is noted as extremely rare in ferns but present in some filmy fern genera.

Resources

• Discover Life provides pages about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Hymenophyllum species.
• Garden Guides provides information about plants commonly known as Filmy Fern Family.