Fragrant Fern (Phymatosorus scandens)
Kingdom: Plants
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Polypodiaceae
Botanical name: Phymatosorus scandens (was Microsorum scandens)
Common name: Fragrant fern, mokimoki
The climbing fern Phymatosorus scandens has a thin creeping rhizome. As a juvenile it grows on the ground with thin dull single green 2cm wide fronds. These single fronds may be up to 30cc long. When it starts to climb trees it develops adult fronds. These adult fronds can be up to 50cm long and up to18cm wide.
The sori are small and are in a small cavity. These cavities form lumps on the upper surface. Phymatosorus scandens fronds are narrower and more numerous than the frond segments of Phymatosorus diversifolius. It can be found in coastal to lowland forests in damp conditions creeping on the ground or climbing trees in damp conditions. The Mokimoki was used by the Maoris mixed with other oils as scented products.
Photo showing 6 different fronds in different stages of development all on the same stem.
A juvenile Fragrant Fern
Fronds changing to adult form
Adult frond. See the lumps on the surface formed by the sori cavities on the underside.
Close up of Fragrant ferns sori
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