Species: Pteris ensiformis

English Name: Sword Brake

Chinese Name: 劍葉鳳尾蕨

Family: Pteridaceae

Description:

This fern has a creeping rhizome bearing its fronds close together.

It can be found in Sri Lanka, India, China, throughout South East Asia and Australia.

Used of traditional herbal drinks in Taiwan.

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author

Species: Pteris dispar

English Name: Disparate Brake

Chinese Name: 刺齒鳳尾蕨、刺齒半邊旗

Family: Pteridaceae

Description:

Plants are evergreen and terrestrial up to 80cm tall. Its rhizome is ascending, 7-10mm in diameter, and it’s covered in brownish-black scales.

This fern can be found  in China, Taiwan and throughout South East Asia. More specifically in open forests along valleys.

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author

Species:  Pteridium aquilinum

English Name: Bracken or Eagle fern

Chinese Name: 蕨、蕨菜、肴粉蕨、龍菜

Family: Pteridiaceae

Description:

It’s called eagle fern because of the shape of the mature fronds appearing akin to an eagle’s wing. Or it can also be because the pattern of the fibbers seen in transverse section of the stipe resemble a double-headed eagle.

It contains carcinogenic compounds. In Japan where the young stem is consumed as a vegetable, it is predicted to have the  higher rates of stomach cancer in the world.

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Species: Sphenomeris chinensis

English Name: Common Wedgelet Fern

Chinese Name: 烏蕨,烏韭

Family: Lindsaeaceae

Description:

This fern can grow up to 5 feet tall, it’s evergreen and it has a short creeping rhizome. Its fronds are hairless and glossy light green.

It can be found in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, countries of South East Asia and some Pacific Islands. More specifically it occupies forest openings, grassland and shrub lands along streamsides.

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao ... Read more »

Species: Lindsaea orbiculata

English Name: Lindsaea

Chinese Name: 海島鱗始蕨

Family: Lindsaeaceae

Description:

Rhizome is short-creeping with 1,5mm of diameter.

Found on clayey slopes, often on river banks in light-shade or evergreen forests.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author

Species: Sphaeropteris lepifera

English Name: Scaly Sphaeropteris

Chinese Name: 筆筒樹

Family: Cynatheaceae

Description:

Trunk is erect, often more than 6m tall., up to 20cm in diameter. Fronds are pale green.

Found on valley slopes, mountain forests, sunny grasslands and often on wet soils.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author

Species: Gonocormus minutus 

English name: Minute Gonocormus

Chinese name: 團扇蕨

Family: Hymenophyllaceae.

Description:

Very small frond, mature height less than 30 cm.

Commonly found on mossy rocks and trees in mesic to wet, low elevation forests.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author