Acrostichum aureum L.

Mangrove fern, it may reach 2 m tall. Fronds (leaves of ferns) are pinnate and leathery, spores are found at the extremity of apical pinnae, along the veins.

Habit: Shrub, erect fern 1 – 2 m tall. 

Roots: Adventitious roots.

Leaves: Fronds once-pinnate; leaflet 8 - 14, alternate, linear-oblong, retusely mucronate at apex, cuneate at base, entire, venation reticulate with uniform elongate areoles diverging from the thickened midrib without free vein endings. Stipes (petiole of the frond) are woody, glabrous, arising from a stout woody rhizome. Scales broad restricted at the base of fronds. 

Inflorescences or flowers: Fertile fronds only on the upper leaflet, lowest leaflet always distant, long-stalked. Sori densely aggregated along the undersurface, non-indusiate. 

Seeds /seedling: Spores.

Habitat and ecology

It is a strong weedy and aggressive species that occurs in back mangroves and is associated with tidally influenced estuarine. Light-tolerant or even light-demanding species. It can survive without regular tidal inundation.

This species may grow and colonize by vegetative propagation through rhizomatous roots; new individuals also develop from spores via gametophytes, especially in disturbed sites.

Germination of spores seems most successful in freshwater. Sex-organ (antheridia and archegonia) ontogeny occurs in sequence so that outcrossing is promoted.

Rhizome is used as medicine for wounds and boils; fronds are used as antidote for snake bite; litter for cattle and roof thatching