Crepidomanes shenzhenense

Crepidomanes shenzhenense is a diminutive epilithic fern native to the humid, shaded evergreen forests of Guangdong Province, China. It thrives on moist granitic rocks near mountain streams. This fern is well-suited for terrariums and can also be grown underwater, making it an excellent choice as an aquatic plant.

Features:

• Size: 1–1.5 cm tall.

• Rhizome: Long, creeping, irregularly branching, covered with brown to dark brown short simple hairs.

• Fronds: Up to 1 cm broad; stipe ca. 0.5 cm long, winged only at apex; lamina broadly obovate, sometimes obovate or elliptic, 1-pinnate to tri-pinnatifid, membranous, base equally cuneate, apex round, green to dark green.

• Pinnae: 1–4 pairs, closely spaced to slightly imbricate, alternate, sessile.

• Ultimate Segments: Usually apart, linear, ca. 3 mm long and 1.5 mm broad, margin entire or slightly wavy, apex retused.

• Veins: Dichotomous, raised on each surface, green, sparsely covered with club-shaped hairs; submarginal false veinlets absent, internal false veinlets many, oblique, 0.5–0.8 mm long.

• Sori: 1–5 on upper parts of frond, apical on pinnae or long acroscopic segment, involucres funnel form, elliptic, 1.5–1.8 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm wide, winged, lobed to 1/2, lips bilabiate, triangular, margin crenate to dissected; receptacles projecting, brown, 2–3 mm.

Care Tips:

• Humidity: Maintain high humidity levels (80% or higher).

• Temperature: Keep temperatures between 20–25°C.

• Light: Provide indirect or filtered light; avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch.

• Water: Use soft, deionized, or rainwater. Ensure the substrate is consistently moist but not waterlogged.

• Substrate: Utilize a well-draining mix of sphagnum moss, orchid bark, and perlite.

• Placement: Ideal for terrariums, vivariums, or aquariums, where it can be used as an aquatic plant.