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 | Lecanopteris (Antferns) |
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Lecanopteris
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Little known by horticulturalists, this small Genus consists of a few species that live associated with ants in the wild. The rhizomes are hollow (except for L. mirabilis) and function as nests for ants. The ants protect the ferns from other insects that might feed from the fern. All of them are easy growers as long as they are kept a bit dryer than Nepenthes.
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Picture galleries
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 L. carnosa There seems to be some confusion about the identity of Lecanopteris carnosa in cultivation. Plants from Sulawesi are characterized by spiny outgrowths as seen in the pictures. Such structures are n...
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L. darnaedii A wonderful highland plant. Older specimens have a waxy layer which gives them a slightly blueish shine. The species can easily distinguished from the similar L. holttumii by the arrangement of the...
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L. holttumii A wonderful highland plant. Older specimens have a waxy layer which gives them a slightly blueish shine. The species can easily distinguished from the similar L. darnaedii by the arrangement of the...
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L. lomarioides Lecanopteris lomarioides is characterized by a mass of hollow "arms" and bubbles formed by the rhizome. These are inhabited by ants in the wild.
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L. luzonensis Lecanopteris is the smallest species. The leaves of adult plants just measure 10 to 15 centimeters. It is characterized by scaleeless rhizomes which turn almost black with age.
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L. sinuosa Lecanopteris sinuosa is frequently found on dead trees often at roadsides in the lowlands. It has a very big distribution range covering most of South-East Asia.
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L. spinosa Probably the most beautiful of all Lecanopteris species. The rhizome has a cream color that turns blackish with age. It is covered by rigid spines. Note the typical undivided leaves, a characterist...
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Cultivation
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All species of Lecanopteris can be grown in an open mix consisting of Sphagnum, perlite, peat, bark and other compounds that enhance drainage. While they grow directly on the bark of older trees, in cultivation growing them mounted on bark does not work too well. Plants tend to grow extremely slow when grown that way.
In cultivation all species take benefit from being fertilized regularly using Osmocote. In the wild this job is done by ants inhabiting the rhizome of the clumps.
In order to avoid ugly leaf-spots, water should not be standing on the leaves over night.
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Lowland species
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Lowland species growing near sea level love to be kept warm during day and night. They like to be grown well illuminated.
Lecanopteris crustacea
Lecanopteris mirabilis
Lecanopteris sinuosa
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Species from intermediate altitude
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Lecanopteris celebica
Lecanopteris curtisii
Lecanopteris carnosa
Lecanopteris deparioides
Lecanopteris lomarioides
Lecanopteris luzonensis
Lecanopteris pumila
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Highland species
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Highland species prefer cool nights of less than 20°C. During daytime the temperature may rise to 25°C and even higher for short periods.
Lecanopteris darnaedii
Lecanopteris holttumii
Lecanopteris spinosa
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