Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf"
Needle leaf Java fern
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf"
Needle leaf Java fern
- Extremely narrow ribbon-shaped leaves
- Dense bushy growth habit
- Rather dark green
- Rarely available in trade
Curbside delivery: This item ships by freight carrier and is delivered to the curb only, not to your door or into your home. The carrier will call you in advance to schedule a delivery date. Learn more about freight delivery
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Description
True "Needle Leaf" Java fern is relatively rare in the hobby and very hard to come by in trade. It has extremely narrow strap-shaped leaves that are only 3-5 mm wide and approx. 5-20(-30) cm long. It is a relatively slow grower, which makes it highly suitable for nano aquaria. Often Microsorum pteropus "Taiwan Narrow" is called "Needle Leaf" in the hobby, but it has wider, longer leaves than the true "Needle Leaf".
Characteristics
The vernacular name "needle leaf" obviously is used for (at least) two similar Java fern forms growing to different sizes. However, both forms alike have exceedingly narrow, band-like leaves of a medium to dark green colour with an undulate margin. The midrib is rather thick in comparison with leaf width, and on the underside of the leaf there are dark brown hirsute scales. The distance between the leaves on the rhizome is rather brief, and the roots remain relatively short.
The larger variety is also known under the name M. pteropus "Taiwan" and (erroneously) as "Narrow Leaf" (not identical with M. pteropus "Narrow" from the aquatic plant nursery Tropica). The leaves of adult plants are usually over 5 mm wide and reach a maximum width of around 2 cm and a length of 30 cm.
The smaller variety, also in trade under the name Microsorum spec. ()
| Synonyms | Microsorum pteropus ''True Needle Leaf'', Microsorum sp. ''Mini'' |
|---|---|
| Misapplied names | Microsorum brassii |
| Complete botanical name | Microsórum ptéropus (Blume) Copeland |
| Family | Polypodiaceae |
| Genus | Microsorum |
| Difficulty | very easy |
| Usage | Epiphyte (growing on hardscape), Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group |
| Growth | slow |
| pH value | 5 - 7.5 |
| Temperature tolerance | 4 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 0 - 12°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Proliferating leaves, Proliferating roots, Rhizome division, Splitting, cutting off daughter plants |
| Can grow emersed? | yes |
| Source | Flowgrow |
General information
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Questions and answers about Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf"
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Customer reviews
5 Reviews
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Sold out again within two hours on August 27, 2026.
I would have loved to snag one too :(
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Angeblich schön, aber definitiv selten
War am 27.08.2026 innerhalb von zwei Stunden leider wieder ausverkauft.
Ich hätte auch gerne einen ergattert :(
Beautiful, rich, deep green, beautiful leaves, great plant. A portion is relatively expensive, but still absolutely worth the money
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Hammer
Schönes, sattes, tiefes Grün, schönes Blatt, Top Pflanze. Eine Portion ist zwar relativ teuer, aber trotzdem das Geld absolut wert
A very beautiful fern. A good portion was delivered. What I unfortunately didn't like so much was that the fern was wrapped in blue filter sponge and had already grown through...
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Sehr zu empfehlen
Ein sehr schöner Farn. Eine gute Portion die geliefert wurde.
Was ich leider nicht so schön fand, das der Farn in blauen Filterschwamm eingewickelt war und durch diesen schon durchgewachsen war, wodurch er sich extrem schlecht davon lösen lies. Da ich ihn aber zwischen Wurzeln gesteckt habe, fielen die Reste nicht weiter auf.
Würde ich nochmal kaufen, weil die Pflanze wirklich ne top Qualität hatte.
Update 10.11.2017:
Wirklich ein toller Farn und echt fix mit dem wachsen. Ich habe ihn jetzt knapp ein halbes Jahr im Becken und er hat locker die vierfache Menge zugelegt obwohl er wirklich nur mässiges Licht bekam an der Stelle.
Schön anzusehen wie er sich leicht in der Strömung wiegt. Mittlerweile einer meiner Lieblingsfarne.
