These are billions of spores of a bird's nest fern, Asplenium nidus. If environmental conditions are favorable, like the humid but warm rainforest setting, a lot of these will find germination easily. However, nature provides allowances for harsh environments. For assurance of the species to continue living in the world, with whatever confrontations they might encounter, a lot are provided. This is the analogy of the single sperm cell that solely will be fertilizing an egg cell.
My two bird's nest plant are started from a seedling less than a foot in diameter. They are planted very compactly near each other so competing for space. Each one is now growing to about one meter in diameter, and have been producing spores for a few years now. However, i have not yet seen a nearby seedling yet in our vicinity. That is probably because we are in the more dry conditions, unsuitable for their growth. But i hope a few of them are carried by winds and water to nearby trees for propagation and continuance of the species.
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Who knows, you might see some of its babies somewhere else :)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't you give one tiny seed a helping hand ?
ReplyDeleteLovely photo
ReplyDeleteThey sprout everywhere in my garden, particularly on brick ledges or walls.
They sprout like mushrooms in my garden. They are everywhere and I have to resort to culling. Some are at least six feet in diameter.
ReplyDeleteThis is a marvelous macro of the spores on the fern. I hope you soon find some baby ferns nearby.
ReplyDeleteTerrific macro, Andrea... WOW---that is a ton of spores on that fern... Hope you see some babies soon.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Haha, this is my FOC plant in my garden. I salvaged some and now one has grown quite big.
ReplyDeleteHi there stranger!! I haven't forgotten you:) I'm still around just busy with work and other things....like birds and the garden:) Speaking of the garden, I like the spore shot up close. Very nice macro. It's truly an interesting feature on several plants.
ReplyDeleteA very different perspective of the fern
ReplyDeleteHei:)
ReplyDeleteTanks for visiting my blogg:)
Very fine history of fren:)
Have a nice weekwnd:))
So interesting Andrea, no chance of it growing in our climate though.
ReplyDelete