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Acrostichum aureum L.
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| Family Name : Pteridaceae
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| Common Names : Leather Fern, Paku Laut, Mangrove Fern, Coarse Swamp Fern, Golden Leather Fern, Piai Raya, Larat, Piai
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| Chinese Name : 卤蕨
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- Record Info
- Life Stage & Characteristics
Plant Division : Ferns & Allies (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Fern) |
Plant Growth Form : Shrub (Herbaceous) |
Lifespan (in Singapore) : Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition : Autotrophic |
Plant Shape : Fountain (Palm-like) |
Maximum Height : 1 m to 3 m |
- Biogeography
Native Distribution : Old & New World Tropics |
Native Habitat : Aquatic (Brackish Pond / Lake / River), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
Preferred Climate Zone : Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Local Conservation Status : Native to Singapore (Common) |
- Description & Ethnobotany
Plant Morphology : Growth Form: It is a mangrove fern, growing up to 3 m tall, and thrives well under full sun. The stem (rhizome) of this species is stout, erect, and covered with relatively large scales that are about 4 by 1.8 cm. Foliage: Dark green, erect fronds are composed of 24 - 30 pinnae (leaflet-like structure) in alternate arrangement (1 - 4 m long, 0.12 - 0.5 m wide). The petiole of the frond (known as the stipe) is usually about 1 m long. The 5 - 8 pairs of pinnae near the tip are fertile with their underside covered in reddish brown sporangia (except the midrib), while the remaining pinnae are infertile. The pinnae are oblong with a blunt tip (8 - 50 cm long, 1 - 7 cm wide) and bright red when immature. Stems: Fibrous rhizomes (underground, horizontal stems) have a scaly surface. Reproductive Parts (non-flowering plant): The pinnae which bear the sporangia are restricted to the upper parts of a frond at varying proportions. The sporangia and the sterile hairs (paraphyses) among them will cover the whole lower surface of the pinnae, giving it a dark brown appearance. Its spores are dispersed by wind. |
Habitat : It grows along the landward side mangrove forests because it is less tolerant of frequent seawater inundation. It sometimes grows near the sea in the absence of mangrove forests. It occurs locally in Pulau Ubin (including Chek Jawa), and many other coastal sites. |
Similar : The pinnae of Acrostichum aureum have blunt tips, while those of Acrostichum speciosum have pointed tips. |
Associated Fauna : Typically colonizes mud lobster mounds which are more elevated and less likely to be flooded. |
Cultivation : It can be propagated by spores. |
Etymology : Greek akros, top; Greek stichos, order, referring to the lines on the lower surface of the leaves; Latin aureum, golden yellow, referring to the golden hue of the younger leaflets |
Ethnobotanical Uses : Edible Plant Parts (Edible Leaves) Food (Fruit & Vegetable: The young leaves are consumed as a vegetable.) Medicinal (Fronds are shredded or crushed and applied as a poultice on wounds, boils or ulcers. In India, the fronds are used to treat snake bites.) [Others]: In Vietnam, the dried fronds are used as material for roofing. |
- Landscaping Features
Landscaping : It is suitable as a marsh plant for the edges of ponds or waterlogged areas. |
Desirable Plant Features : Ornamental Foliage |
Plant & Rootzone Preference/Tolerance : Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Easy to Grow |
Landscape Uses : Parks & Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog |
Thematic Landscaping : Marsh Garden |
- Fauna, Pollination & Dispersal
Seed / Spore Dispersal : Abiotic |
- Plant Care & Propagation
Light Preference : Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
Water Preference : Lots of Water |
Maintenance Requirements : Low |
Propagation Method : Spore, Division |
- Foliar
Foliage Retention : Evergreen |
Mature Foliage Colour(s) : Green |
Mature Foliage Texture(s) : Leathery |
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) : Orange |
Foliar Type : Compound |
Foliar Attachment to Stem : Petiolate |
Foliar Shape(s) : Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
Foliar Margin : Entire |
Foliar Apex / Tip : Mucronate |
Foliar Base : Rounded / Obtuse |
- Fruit, Seed & Spore
Sporophyll & Related Description : Sporangiophore: Reddish brown and powder-like. |
- References
The DNA of Singapore. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/ |
Yong J, Tan PY, Nor Hafiz Hassan, Tan SN. 2010. A Selection of Plants for Greening of Waterways and Waterbodies in the Tropics. Singapore: Chung Printing . 480 pp. |
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The information given on this website has been compiled from reference works on medicinal plants and/or pron only. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Reliance on this information is strictly at your own risk. You should always consult your physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
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