Family:
Hymenophyllaceae.
Region: East Asia, Japan, Taiwan, parts of China, Southeast Asia.
Habitat: shaded, moist environments, forest understories, along streams, in ravines; often epiphytic or growing on rocks in tropical and subtropical regions.
BotanyFern; small; delicate; perennial.
Roots: fine; fibrous; creeping rhizome.
Leaves: thin; translucent; single layer of cells; pinnately divided; dark green, and slightly glossy; 10 to 30 cm in length.
Sori: cup-shaped; at the tips of leaves or lobes; protected by a small, hood-like indusium.
Use: ornamental, especially in terrariums or shaded gardens.
Ecological: stabilizing soil; providing microhabitats for small organisms.