This list represents all pteridophyte species known to grow on Moorea. Most pictures are of herbarium specimens from the University and Jepson Herbaria at the University of California at Berkeley. Since these are perhaps not as useful in the field as pictures of living material, we will attempt to replace these with better photos as they become available.

Diagnostic Key to Pteridophytes of Moorea

Ethnobotanical Uses of Pteridophytes

Click on photos or on numbered links to see larger pictures.

Aspleniaceae
Asplenium australasicum Bird's Nest Fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic at middle to high elevations; in rainforests, generally in high tree forks. Notes: Commonly mistaken for the well-known Asplenium nidus, which is less common on Moorea.
Asplenium caudatum Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic.
Asplenium gibberosum Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial. Synonym: Loxoscaphe gibberosa
Asplenium nidus Bird's Nest Fern	Description: Often mistaken for A. australasicum, which is much more common on Moorea.
Asplenium polyodon Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic, found in tree forks, at times with Asplenium australasicum, as well as on logs and rocks.
Asplenium tenerum Photos: 1 2	Description: Lithophytic, rainforest, generally near creeks.
Blechnaceae
Blechnum orientale Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at middle to high elevations, usually found in exposed, drier areas, often in colonies.
Blechnum raiateense Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial.
Cyatheaceae
Alsophila tahitensis Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at high elevations, tree fern to 10 meters, in rainforests and cloud forests; extirpated from some previously known localities on Moorea.
Sphaeropteris medullaris Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Terrestrial at high elevations, in rainforests and cloud forests; extirpated from some previously known localities on Moorea.
Davalliaceae
Arthropteris sp.	Description: Epiphytic in rainforests, growing on smaller trees. Notes: Most likely Arthropteris palisotii or Arthropteris repens.
Davallia denticulata var. elata Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at low to middle elevations, in forest understory near streams and/or in rocky areas.
Davallia solida var. solida Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic at all elevations, usually in rainforests.
Pachypleuria pectinata Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic, climbing on trees in rainforests. Notes: This species is frequently treated in Davallia or Humata
Dennstaedtiaceae
Hypolepis tenuifolia	Description: Terrestrial, in disturbed areas near streams, usually in clearings.
Microlepia scaberula Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial in forst understory.
Dryopteridaceae
Arachniodes aristata Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, in moist areas in forest understory and among boulders.
Bolbitis lonchophora Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, damp areas near streams in small valleys.
Ctenitis sciaphila var. sciaphila Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Terrestrial, in forest understory.
Diplazium ellipticum	Description: Terrestrial, in forest understory.
Diplazium grantii	Description: Terrestrial, in forest understory.
Diplazium harpeodes Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, in forest understory.
Elaphoglossum samoense	Note: E. societarum Copel. is possibly a synonym, certainly it is closely related
Elaphoglossum savaiense	Note: Copeland called this E. gorgoneum, but that species is a synonym of the Hawaiian endemic E. aemulum (as indicated by D. Palmer and others). The most applicable name to Society Islands material is E. savaiense (type from Samoa). Reported for Moorea by Drake del Castillo (1893) as E. gorgoneum.
Lomagramma tahitensis Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial and climbing trees in forests.
Lomariopsis brackenridgei Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Terrestrial and climbing trees in forest understory, rocky, shaded areas.
Tectaria tahitensis Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, in forest understory.
Teratophyllum wilkesianum Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial and climbing trees, sometimes in open areas.
Gleicheniaceae
Dicranopteris linearis var. linearis Photos: 1 2 3 Photo 3: Vicente Garcia 2002	Description: Terrestrial, thicket-forming, aggressive weed in dry, open, disturbed areas at all elevations; will completely colonize fire scars, growing in dense thickets up to 3 m tall., often in very hot, exposed ridges, where it forms the dominant ground cover; extensive use in decorating for festivals, also used medicinally by various Pacific cultures.
Grammitidaceae
Ctenopteris blechnoides	Description: Lithophytic or epiphytic in moist rainforests.
Ctenopteris purpurascens	Description: Epiphytic in moist rainforests.
Grammitis tahitensis	Description: Epiphytic, uncommon on Moorea.
Prosaptia subnuda Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic in moist rainforests.
Hymenophyllaceae
Gonocormus minutus	Description: small epiphyte, uncommon on Moorea.
Hymenophyllum (Mecodium) polyanthos	Note: Hymenophyllum polyanthos (Sw.) Sw., s.l., or H. gracillius Copel. [if this were from the Neotropics, it would certainly not be called H. polyanthos, which is no doubt a species complex]
Trichomanes (Crepidomanes) bipunctatum Photos: 1 2	Description: Lithophytic or, less commonly, epiphytic in rainforest understory, highly branched, sometimes growing with Trichomanes humile.
Trichomanes (Pachychaetum) dentatum	Description: Terrestrial in rainforest understory.
Trichomanes (Crepidium) humile Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic in rainforest near streams, highly branched.
Trichomanes (Pleuromanes) pallidum	Description: Epiphytic in rainforest understory.
Trichomanes (Callistopteris) societense	Description: Terrestrial in rainforest understory. Perhaps synonymous with Trichomanes (Callistopteris) apiifolia.
Trichomanes (Microgonium) tahitense	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic on trees and wet rocks in rainforests; fronds peltate, closely appressed to substrate.
Lindsaeaceae
Lindsaea propinqua	Description: Terrestrial in forst understory.
Lindsaea repens var. marquesensis	Description: Terrestrial or epiphytic
Sphenomeris chinensis	Description: Common fern of dry, disturbed sites.
Lycopodiaceae
Huperzia phlegmaria Common tassel-fern	Description: Epiphytic, rarely lithophytic or terrestrial, pendant.
Huperzia squarrosa	Description: Epiphytic
Lycopodiella cernua Photos: 1 2 3 Photo 3: Vicente Garcia 2002	Description: Terrestrial at high elevations, erect "clubmoss" with nodding strobili, found in open dry to moist areas, or on forest borders in understory.
Marattiaceae
Angiopteris evecta Photos: 1 2 3 Photo 3: Vicente Garcia 2002	Description: Terrestrial at middle to high elevations, fronds 3 or 4 meters, widespread in damp areas near streams in valleys; larger than Marattia, sporangia not completely fused into synangia, common.
Marattia salicina Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at high elevations, in wet valleys; smaller than Angiopteris, sporangia fully fused into synangia, uncommon.
Marsileaceae
Marsilea polycarpa	Description: Aquatic or semi-aquatic fern with clover-like leaves, in shallow water and very moist areas.
Nephrolepidaceae
Nephrolepis cordifolia Fishbone fern, Herringbone fern	Description: Terrestrial in open areas, near sea level.
Nephrolepis exaltata Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial. Notes: This species is the source of the "Boston Fern," the world's most popular indoor cultivated fern variety. Material identified as Nephrolepis biserrata from Moorea (and perhaps the entire Society archipelago) appears to be misdetermined specimens of N. exaltata or N. hirsutula.
Nephrolepis hirsutula Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Terrestrial or epiphytic, fronds to ca. 1 m, common at all elevations in forested areas.
Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossum pendulum Ribbon fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or on fallen logs, at middle to high elevations epiphyte, pendant on forest trees, frequently inside Asplenium australasicum.
Ophioglossum reticulatum	Description: Terrestrial at low elevations, in light forest or open areas near water sources.
Polypodiaceae
Belvisia spicata Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphyte or lithophyte in rainforests, usually bordering streams.
Microsorum commutatum Maire Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or terrestrial in forest understory. Notes: Commonly called Phymatosorus commutatus or Polypodium vitiense. This species is commonly used medicinally in the Society Islands; Crushed leaves emit a pleasant aroma, reminiscent of cinnamon and coumarin. The more common Microsorum grossum is used even more extensively as a medicine.
Microsorum grossum Metua pua'a Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Terrestrial or lithophytic, at all elevations in exposed areas or under light tree cover, also found on “motu” (reef islands). Notes: Commonly called Phymatosorus grossus, and all references to Phymatosorus scolopendria for the Society Islands are referable to this species. The most commonly used medicinal fern in the Society Islands, and likely in the entire Pacific.
Microsorum xmaximum	Description: Terrestrial or lithophytic at low elevations, coastal areas. Rare hybrid with irregular blades. Notes: = Microsorum punctatum x Microsorum grossum
Microsorum membranifolium Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic in forest understory, fronds much larger than other similar Microsorum spp. Synonym: Microsorum nigrescens, Phymatosorus nigrescens, Phymatosorus membranifolium.
Microsorum punctatum Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, lithophytic, or rarely epiphytic at low elevations, in xeric coastal areas, frequently in sandy soil in coastal forest.
Pyrrosia serpens Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic.
Psilotaceae
Psilotum nudum Skeleton fork fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or terrestrial, all elevations.
Tmesipteris gracilis Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic, high elevations, nearly always on tree ferns. Notes: All collections identified as Tmesipteris tannensis for the Society and Marquesas Islands are referable to Tmesipteris gracilis.
Pteridaceae
Acrostichum aureum Golden mangrove fern Photos: 1 2 3 4	Description: Terrestrial at low elevations, fronds to 4 meters, in open, moist, muddy, and/or swampy areas, amongst mangroves, and on coastal cliffs.
Adiantum hispidulum Rough maidenhair fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, rarely lithophytic on damp rocks in very shady places in understory, near streams and in moist areas.
Adiantum raddianum Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial or lithophytic in forest understory. Native to South America, naturalized on Moorea.
Adiantum trapeziforme Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at middle to high elevations, in exposed, dry to moist areas. Native to Mexico and Central America, naturalized on Moorea.
Doryopteris concolor	Description: Lithophytic, uncommon on Moorea.
Pityrogramma calomelanos Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at low to middle elevations, in rocky disturbed areas, forest margins, plantations. Native to the Neotropics.
Pteris comans Netted brake fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial, fronds to 1 meter, in shaded rainforests near streams, in rocky soils.
Pteris tripartita Giant brake fern, Lacy brake fern	Description: Terrestrial, fronds to 1 meter, in rainforests near streams.
Schizaeaceae
Lygodium reticulatum Climbing fern Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Twining vine at middle to high elevations, in rainforests, frequently in disturbed sites.
Schizaea dichotoma Fan fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial at middle to high elevations, in varying habitats, wet to dry, in forests and in open areas, uncommon.
Selaginellaceae
Selaginella banksii Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial in forests.
Thelypteridaceae
Christella dentata	Description: Introduced weedy fern of disturbed sites
Macrothelypteris polypodioides Taiwanese tree fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial in open areas.
Plesioneuron attenuatum Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial or lithophytic in forest understory.
Sphaerostephanos invisus Photos: 1 2	Description: Terrestrial in forest understory.
Sphaerostephanos subpectinatus	Description: Terrestrial in forest understory.
Vittariaceae
Antrophyum plantagineum Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic, in damp areas, usually under significant tree cover.
Antrophyum reticulatum Photos: 1 2 3	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic, in damp areas, usually under significant tree cover. Can resemble a larger version of Antrophyum plantagineum. Notes: There are many reports of A. callifolium (type from Java) from the Society Islands, but collections identified as this in herbaria are all referable to A. reticulatum (type from Tahiti), the older name. In any case, A. callifolium is dubiously distinct.
Haplopteris elongata Tape fern Photos: 1 2	Description: Epiphytic or lithophytic; grass-like fern, mostly on roots of other larger epiphytes, on fallen logs, or on rocks.

For more detailed information on the pteridophytes of Moorea, particularly in regards to synonymy, collection history, location of collections, distribution of taxa and a list of other species likely to be on Moorea, please refer to the following references:

Murdock, Andrew G. and Alan R. Smith. 2003. Pteridophytes of Moorea, French Polynesia, with a new species Tmesipteris gracilis. Pacific Science 57(3): 253-265.

Ranker, Tom A., Trapp, P. G., Smith, A. R., Moran, R. C., and B. S. Parris. 2005. New Records of Lycophytes and Ferns from Moorea, French Polynesia. American Fern Journal 95(3): 126–127.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this page by Andy Murdock (2002), although most are hardly worth taking credit for.