Old World Climbing Fern

Scientific name: Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br.

Synonym: Lygodium scandens, Ugena microphylla

Common names: Old World climbing fern, small leaf climbing fern

Native To: Africa, Australia, and southeast Asia

Date of U.S. Introduction: First found naturalized in 1965

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Introduced as an ornamental

Impact: Smothers native vegetation and increases fire risk by allowing fire to spread up trees along its vines

Current U.S. Distribution: Florida

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Management Plans: Plants / Old World Climbing Fern

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Lygodium microphyllum
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Getting Atop Climbing Fern (Jan 2002)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Hungry Mite May Quell Old World Climbing Fern (Jul 2004)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Potential distribution of the invasive Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, in North and South America (PDF | 232 KB)
USDA. ARS. Australian Biological Control Laboratory.
Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Research

Lygodium microphyllum Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Old World Climbing Fern - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States
BugwoodWiki.
Published by: USDA. Forest Service. Publication FHTET-2002-04.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Lygodium microphyllum - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Plant Profile for Lygodium microphyllum - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Illustrations; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Old World Climbing Fern, Lygodium microphyllum (PDF | 205 KB)
DOI. NPS. Everglades National Park.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Hydrologic Constraints on Establishment of Lygodium microphyllum (May 2007)
DOI. NPS. Everglades National Park.
Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Gaining Ground on Lygodium microphyllum (May 2004)
DOI. United States Geological Survey.
Photographs; Dispersion; Controls

Lygodium microphyllum - Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum, Lygodium microphyllum)
Miami-Dade County (Florida). Department of Environmental Resources Management.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Old World Climbing Fern - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

Lygodium microphyllum - Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (PDF | 78 KB)
University of Florida.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution

TAME Lygodium (Old World Climbing Fern)
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. TAME Invasives Portal.
Species of Concern; Contacts; Publications; Controls; Research

Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)
University of Florida. IFAS. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

International

Biological control of the Old World climbing fern in the USA
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia).
Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Lygodium microphyllum (fern) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Threats to Birds - Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)
American Bird Conservancy.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Old World Climbing Fern (PDF | 953 KB)
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum) Management Plan for Florida (2006; PDF | 2.33 MB)
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Lygodium Task Force.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Old world climbing fern, small leaf climbing fern
Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Weed Alert: Old World climbing fern (PDF | 998 KB)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution