FNPS Plant Database

Psilotum nudum

whisk fern
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

whisk fern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Psilotum nudum

Family:

Psilotaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

fern

Size:

to 1.5 ft tall by to 1.5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Typically grown as a curiosity in a shade garden or as an epiphyte. Sometimes grown as a container plant.

Considerations:

Availability:

Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Spores.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock, Epiphytic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Variable, mesic to dry hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This is a primitive plant that produces spores.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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