Whisk Fern Psilotum nudum

Whisk Fern is a perennial, evergreen, fern-like plant, native to North Carolina as well as a good part of the tropical and sub-tropical world. At maturity, the stems rise 20 inches high supporting yellow sporangia balls. This plant is prized as a rare primitive vascular plant, thus lacking many of the typical features, such as roots, leaves and flowers, of modern-day vascular plants. The species name means naked in Latin, because the plant appears to lack most of the organs of typical plants. 

Whisk Fern does best sited in full sun or partial shade, in humusy, moist and well-drained soil. Whisk Fern can grow on the ground (terrestrial) or grow on another plant (epiphytic). Note that, when growing as epiphytic, the plant does not draw food or water from its host. Stems are erect when terrestrial, and are often pendulous when epiphytic and branching (dichotomous). The branches are numerous and triangular.

The plant can spread by means of rhizomes, but does not set roots. They are often found as weeds in the nursery industry and can become a noxious weed in greenhouses.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.