Angiopteris evecta
Angiopteris evecta, commonly known as the king fern, giant fern, elephant fern, oriental vessel fern, Madagascar tree fern, or mule's Foot fern, is a very large rainforest fern in the family Marattiaceae native to most parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania. It has a history dating back about 300 million years, and is believed to have the longest fronds of any fern in the world. Description. "Angiopteris evecta" is a self-supporting evergreen perennial fern with very large bipinnate fronds. The trunk-like rhizome is massive, measuring up to in diameter. The older portions of the rhizome  lie on the ground while the newer growth may rise vertically up to high. The arching, glossy green fronds, which emerge from the tip of the rhizome, may reach up to long and wide, with the fleshy green petiole (leaf stem) making up of that length. They are said to be the longest fern fronds in the world, and despite their enormous size they have no woody strengthening tissues in the fronds to keep them erect—instead they are supported entirely by the hydraulic pressure of the sap. On either side of the petiole where it arises from the rhizome  there are flat, rounded, leathery, ear-shaped stipules, known as "auricles", which can measure up to in diameter. The fronds are bipinnate with about 9 to 12 pairs of pinnae measuring up to long and wide. Each pinnae carries about 30 to 40 pairs of pinnules that measure around , and both the main rachis and the secondary rachillae (midribs) are pulvinate (swollen at the base). Sporangia are borne on the underside of the pinnules, very close to the margin, in clusters of 5 to 8 opposite pairs. Overall dimensions of this fern can be up to high by wide. Evolution . Fossilised fronds bearing a distinct similarity to this plant have been found in Paleozoic rocks from every continent, indicating that the species is very primitive and was widespread around 300 million years ago, a time when ferns and their relatives were the dominant plants on the planet. The geographically isolated communities seen today point to favourable climatic conditions being more widespread in the past. Taxonomy. "Angiopteris evecta" was originally named and described as "Polypodium evectum" by Georg Forster in 1786, in his work "Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus". It was moved to the genus Angiopteris in 1794 by Georg Franz Hoffmann , publishing in the journal "Commentationes Societatis Regiae Scientiarum Gottingensis". "A. evecta" is the type species of the genus "Angiopteris". Etymology. The genus name comes from the Ancient Greek "aggeion", a vessel, and "pteris", a fern, and is a reference to the sporangia. The species epithet is the Latin adjective "evectus" meaning to carry out, bring forth, raise, or elevate. Synonyms. , Plants of the World Online lists 73 synonyms for "Angiopteris evecta", which are considered by some authorities to potentially be distinct species, calling for a more thorough taxonomic investigation. Distribution and habitat. "Angiopteris evecta" is native to southeast Asia and  Oceania, from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the west through to Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia in the east, and from Japan in the north to northern and eastern Australia in the south. It has been introduced to most of the rest of tropical Asia, as well as Madagascar and parts of the tropical Americas. It has become naturalised in Hawaii, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba. The species grows in rainforest on very rich soils, often of volcanic origin and prefers a very warm wet climate. It is usually an understorey plant in well developed rainforest, especially along creek banks in  deep sheltered gullies where there is good drainage and a plentiful supply of fresh water, but is occasionally found in more exposed situations. The preferred annual mean temperature range is and annual precipitation between . It grows at elevations from sea level to . Cultural uses. The starchy rhizomes are eaten after long processing to remove toxins, used to perfume coconut oil, to flavour rice and to produce an intoxicating drink. The 1889 book "The Useful Native Plants of Australia" records Indigenous Australians ate the pith of this fern. Conservation. The conservation status of "Angiopteris evecta" varies from place to place. For  example in Australia's Northern Territory it is listed as vulnerable, with only one small population in north eastern Arnhem Land; in New South Wales, where suitable habitat is restricted to a small area in the north east corner of the state and only a single, non-reproductive specimen is known, it is listed as endangered. However in the state of Queensland, which lies in between the other two states and where there is an abundance of suitable habitat, it is listed as least concern. , this species has not been assessed by the IUCN. Invasive potential. When introduced to an  area with a suitable climate, "Angiopteris evecta" can establish dense stands that inhibit local species. It is listed as invasive in Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica and Hawaii, where in each case it has escaped from plantings in botanic gardens. It has also been introduced to many tropical countries and has repeatedly escaped from cultivation.