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
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Epiphyte for aquariums

Epiphyte

Foreground group for aquariums

Foreground

Middle ground plant for aquariums

Middle ground

Aquarium plant for nano aquariums

Nano aquarium

Difficulty of the aquarium plant
Difficulty Easy
Growth of the aquarium plant
Growth Very slow
Light above the aquarium
Light Low
Maximum water hardness for this aquarium plant in the aquarium
Water hardness max. Medium
Care height of aquarium plants
Recommended care height 10-20 cm
CO2 in the planted aquarium
CO2 No

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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".

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. (read more)

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
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
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
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

Item no.
EAN
Weight
Shipping weight

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Customer reviews

This item has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
5 Reviews
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5 Stars(4)
4 Stars(1)
3 Stars(0)
2 Stars(0)
1 Star(0)
Florian H.
Supposedly beautiful, but definitely rare
27th August
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion

Sold out again within two hours on August 27, 2026.

I would have loved to snag one too :(

Translated from German
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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 :(

Philipp K.
Awesome
13th July 2019
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion

Beautiful, rich, deep green, beautiful leaves, great plant. A portion is relatively expensive, but still absolutely worth the money

Translated from German
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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

Sylvia F.
Highly recommend
16th June 2017
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion
Microsorum pteropus "True Needle Leaf" - Portion

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... (read more)

Translated from German
Show original

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.

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