Fernhead unfurling in moist morning light by jungle mama I love photographing uncurling fernheads. But this is the rich and vital "big picture"... showing numerous fern heads uncurling amidst a jungle of giant fern fronds! Angiopteris evecta, commonly known as the Giant Fern, is a rare plant occurring in eastern and northern Australia. Also found growing in nearby islands such as New Guinea and various places in Polynesia and Melanesia. Listed as endangered by extinction in New South Wales, where it has been recorded growing in sub tropical rainforest in the valley of the Tweed River. It is an invasive species in Jamaica. Angiopteris evecta is the type species of the genus Angiopteris. It was originally described as Polypodium evectum by Georg Forster in 1786, before being reclassified and given its current binomial name by Georg Franz Hoffmann in 1796. The species name is the Latin adjective evectus "swollen" or "inflated." Common names include giant fern, king fern, oriental vessel fern, and mule's foot fern. The huge mature fronds measure up to 8 meters (25 ft) long. They originate from a large thick rootstock, up to 80 cm (32 in) high. Angiopteris evecta can be grown in well-drained moist sites in the garden with some shade. It cannot be propagated by spores but the lobes from the frond base can be removed and will form a new plant in around a year in a medium of sand and peat. Angiopteris evecta Windows to the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL www.susanfordcollins.com https://flic.kr/p/2dQR94e
