M. lamii
L. carnosa
L. darnaedii
L. holttumii
L. lomarioides
L. luzonensis
L. sinuosa
L. spinosa
Lecanopteris spinosa

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Lecanopteris spinosa

Probably the most beautiful of all Lecanopteris species. The rhizome has a cream color that turns blackish with age. It is covered by rigid spines. Note the typical undivided leaves, a characteristic it only shares with L. sinuosa.



Cultivation

All species of Lecanopteris can be grown in an open mix consisting of Sphagnum, perlite, peat, bark and other compounds that enhance drainage. While they grow directly on the bark of older trees, in cultivation growing them mounted on bark does not work too well. Plants tend to grow extremely slow when grown that way.
In cultivation all species take benefit from being fertilized regularly using Osmocote. In the wild this job is done by ants inhabiting the rhizome of the clumps.
In order to avoid ugly leaf-spots, water should not be standing on the leaves over night.



Highland species

Highland species prefer cool nights of less than 20°C. During daytime the temperature may rise to 25°C and even higher for short periods.

Lecanopteris darnaedii
Lecanopteris holttumii
Lecanopteris spinosa