Walking Ferns

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FernCliffFarms Dutton, AL(Zone 7a) Apr 09, 2001

Has anyone ever heard of the Walking Fern. I have not seen one, but my granny tells me that she used to fine them around springs, mostly springs running down mountain sides. It's a Fern that I guess sets out runners, and the runners set out runners and so on. Therefore it is called the walking fern. Maybe one of you have heard of it.

FernCliffFarms

Post #3434
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darius So.App.Mtns., United States(Zone 5b) Apr 09, 2001

Don't know your fern, but it makes me think of a story by Eric Sloane about an apple tree 'for the scabbies?'... which was an apple that grew, rotted, and fell downhill, rooted, grew, rotted and fell downhill....over and over... until it was nowhere near where it had started! Made me remember they story and chuckle when I read your fern description...
-darius

Post #66785
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FernCliffFarms Dutton, AL(Zone 7a) Apr 10, 2001

The Walking Fern does exist, I don't know what the Latin name is, but this weekend I am going over to one of my granny's friends house to see one. She has a few growing around a spring at her house. I get back with you, and give the details.

FernCliffFarms

Post #66876
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Lindag Greenbrier, AR(Zone 7a) Apr 10, 2001

I was at a garen show, they had a white rabbit foot fern planted in a cavity in a odd looking rock the fern was attaching itself with long runners (with fine looking frons} as it grew up the rock, and down the sides, they said it was not hardey in our zone 7 garden Ar.
Couldn't afford the one at the show, so I went looking at local nursery, found one, furnished my own rock,
This is what the label said, White Rabbit Foot Fern, (Humata tyermanii) No direct sun, keep moist but not constantly wet. Well drained organic soil. May go dormant in winter.
There must be different types,of rabbit foot ferns. I had another one that had fatter runners they auctually looked like rabbits feet, and fronds 2 to 3 feet.
Lindag

Post #66934
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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Apr 11, 2001

I searched on Google using "walking fern" in quotes and found these links. Do any of these resemble what you're talking about? These root where the fronds touch the ground. Cool, eh?

Asplenium rhizophyllum L. / Camptosorus rhizophyllus

http://www.eco-usa.net/flora/walkfern.html
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/walkfern.html
http://www.wap.atfreeweb.com/Palmdc/ferns/walking.html


This message was edited Wednesday, Apr 11th 6:29 PM

Post #67274
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FernCliffFarms Dutton, AL(Zone 7a) Apr 16, 2001

The Rabbit fern is not the walking fern. I got to see the walking fern yesterday, its one long leaf with small ripples down the sides. It was pretty neat, I took a picture, but I don't have a scanner. :(

FernCliffFarms
Ryan

Post #68099
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justmeLisa Brewers, KY(Zone 6b) Apr 21, 2001

I bought a fern one time called an "Australia Walking Fern". You have to water it from the top of the fern and let it drip down the center. Could this be the one?

Post #69538
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