Scientific Name:
Pteris cretica
Pronunciation:
TEER-iss KREE-tih-kuh
Common Name:
table fern, ribbon fern, Cretan brake fern
Family Name:
Pteridaceae
Plant Type:
Fern, Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Fronds arching, pale green fronds, each with up to five simple or fork-tipped pinnae; spores may form along a downward rolled margin.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Irregular
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Origin:
Africa, Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include P. 'Mayii' (lobed pinnae tips) and P. ‘Albolineata’ (grayish fronds with white central patches down the center of each pinna). Compare to P. ensiformis.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound, Fern-like
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Odd-pinnate
Colour in Summer:
Green, Some cvs. have white stripe.
Shapes:
Linear, Spatulate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Pinnately lobed, Undulate (wavy)
Additional Info:
Leaves variegated, Leaves are fronds; sterile fronds spreading; fertile fronds upright.
Inflorescence Type:
Flower Morphology:
Colour (petals):
No flowers
Flower Time at Peak:
Fruit Type:
Sporangium (spores)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Bark or Stem Colour:
Additional Info:
no above ground stem
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
Medium
Light Level:
Low
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
Scale insects (Disease resistant)
