Squirrel's-Foot Fern

Davallia solida has a broad natural range extending across tropical and subtropical Asia into Australasia and the Pacific Islands.

• Native to regions including Sri Lanka, southern India, Southeast Asia, southern China (including Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and parts of northern and eastern Australia
• Also recorded on various Pacific islands
• In Australia, found in Queensland and New South Wales, primarily in coastal and near-coastal areas
• Thrives in tropical and subtropical moist forest zones at low to moderate elevations, typically from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters
• The genus Davallia was named by James Edward Smith in honor of the Swiss-English botanist Edmund Davall (1762–1798)

Davallia solida is a perennial epiphytic or lithophytic fern, notable for its creeping rhizomes and elegant triangular fronds.

Rhizome & Stipes:
• Rhizomes are long-creeping, fleshy, and densely covered with golden-brown to reddish-brown, scale-like hairs (paleae) that give them a distinctly furry appearance — reminiscent of a squirrel's foot or a small animal's paw
• Rhizome diameter: approximately 3–8 mm
• Stipes (leaf stalks) are erect to arching, smooth, green to brownish, typically 5–20 cm long, with a distinct groove on the upper surface

Fronds:
• Triangular to broadly ovate in outline, 20–60 cm long and 10–30 cm wide
• 3- to 4-pinnate (highly divided), giving the fronds a lacy, delicate appearance
• Ultimate pinnules (leaf segments) are narrowly lanceolate to linear, with finely serrated or entire margins
• Texture is herbaceous; color ranges from bright to medium green
• Fronds are borne in a loose, spreading arrangement along the creeping rhizome

Sori:
• Small, round to cup-shaped sori borne on the underside of the ultimate segments near the margins
• Each sorus is partially covered by a small, pouch-like or cup-shaped indusium (true indusium, not a false indusium formed by the leaf margin)
• Spores are yellowish-brown, released when mature

Davallia solida is primarily an epiphytic fern in its natural habitat, though it can also grow on rocks (lithophytic) and occasionally on the forest floor.

• In tropical forests, typically found growing on tree trunks and branches in humid, sheltered positions
• Also colonizes rock faces, mossy banks, and rotting logs
• Prefers partial to full shade; direct sunlight can scorch the delicate fronds
• Requires consistently high atmospheric humidity (ideally 60–80%)
• Grows in warm, frost-free environments; sensitive to cold temperatures

Reproduction:
• Reproduces via spores dispersed by wind
• Spores germinate into small, heart-shaped prothalli in moist conditions
• Fertilization requires a film of water for sperm to swim from antheridia to archegonia
• The creeping rhizomes also allow vegetative spread, enabling the plant to colonize new surfaces over time

Davallia solida is a popular ornamental fern for indoor cultivation and is considered relatively easy to grow compared to many other fern species, though it has specific requirements for humidity and drainage.

Light:
• Prefers bright indirect light or dappled shade
• Avoid direct sunlight, which will scorch the delicate fronds
• Tolerates lower light levels better than many ferns, but growth will slow

Humidity:
• Requires moderate to high humidity (50–70% or higher)
• Benefits from regular misting, placement on a humidity tray, or use of a room humidifier
• Dry air causes browning of frond tips and margins

Soil / Mounting:
• As an epiphyte, it does not grow in ordinary garden soil
• Best mounted on bark, cork, or tree fern plaques in a hanging basket, or potted in an extremely well-draining, airy mix
• Recommended potting mix: equal parts orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss or coco coir
• The furry rhizomes should sit on or near the surface — do not bury them in soil

Watering:
• Keep the potting medium evenly moist but never waterlogged
• Allow the top layer to dry slightly between waterings
• Reduce watering in winter when growth slows
• Avoid letting the rhizomes sit in standing water

Temperature:
• Optimal range: 18–27°C
• Minimum safe temperature: approximately 10–13°C
• Protect from cold drafts and sudden temperature drops

Propagation:
• Division of rhizomes — the easiest and most common method
• Cut a section of rhizome with at least 2–3 fronds attached and place on moist growing medium
• Spore propagation is possible but slow and requires sterile, humid conditions

Common Problems:
• Brown, crisply dried frond tips → insufficient humidity
• Yellowing fronds → overwatering, poor drainage, or too much direct sun
• Mealybugs and scale insects can occasionally infest the rhizomes and frond bases
• Rhizome rot — caused by burying rhizomes in dense, waterlogged medium