Ox-tongue Fern (Antrophyum callifolium)

Antrophyum callifolium, also known as the Ox‑Tongue Fern, is a striking epiphytic (often also lithophytic) fern in the Pteridaceae (vittarioid) family.

Features and Habitat:

• Fronds: Characterized by thick, paddle-shaped straplike leaves with a succulent texture, typically around 7–8 inches long. They exhibit a bold, glossy surface and often reveal an iridescent blue sheen under low light and high humidity.

• Growth Habit: Grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks or creeps on mossy rocks—preferably near streams or in vine forests. It benefits from good air circulation and elevated humidity.

• Distribution: Native to tropical and subtropical regions across Seychelles, southern China, Indochina, the Pacific Islands, and Queensland, Australia.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers shady to part‑shade conditions with bright, indirect light—avoid direct sun.

• Humidity & Airflow: Thrives in high humidity and airy environments; ideal for greenhouses and terrariums.

• Mounting: Best grown mounted on tree-fern plaques with quality sphagnum moss for optimal root health.

• Moisture: Keep substrate consistently moist without waterlogging; allow slight surface drying between waterings.

• Propagation: Reproduces via spores on frond undersides; harvesting and sowing spores require steady moisture, warmth, and patience. (Division possible but less common).