Although ferns by definition do not produce flowers, this fern sure looks like it does!  Somewhat reminiscent of a Japanese Holly Fern, it has undivided pinnae.  Its sterile fronds and sporing fertile fronds look incredibly similar, but the fertile fronds produce upright extensions from the first set of pinnae base of the rachis that forgo the typical set of lower leaflets and hold stark, flower-like spore structures aloft against the backdrop of the frond.  It is an unusual characteristic, since the fertile fronds of most dimorphic ferns usually have radically different foliar structure from the vegetative ones, or forgo the leaflet structure altogether to produce exclusively spore bearing structures.  It prefers slightly basic soils, as it is often found growing on limestone outcroppings in the Southern US into Mexico.

Frond condition: Evergreen

Reproduction: Dimorphic, producing sterile vegetative and fertile spore bearing fronds.  Asexual reproduction through clumping.

Root Type: Central Crown or Caudex, Clumping

Mature Size: 1’, upright

Origin: Southern US (Texas) and Mexico

Cultural Requirements: Part Shade, Moist, prefers calcium rich (lime) soils which can be supplemented with lime, oyster shells, or egg shells.

USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10