Dicranopteris linearis is a species of fern known as Resam
( in Malay ) or Old World forked fern, besides many other common names. It is one of the most widely distributed
ferns of the Old World tropics.
It grows
easily on poorly drained, nutrient-poor soils and in disturbed habitat and
steep slopes with open-canopy. Thus
making it a pioneer species on primary successional sites such as landslides,
road-cuts, abandoned logging decks, post-agricultural sites, degraded forest
lands etc. Once established, D. linearis persist for a long time but
is eventually shaded out by overtopping trees.
This fern
spread via rhizome, capable to form thickets 3 meters thick or more. The stems are very slow to decompose, thus
may poses fire hazard during dry season.
References
Russell, A. E., et al. (1998). The ecology of the climbing fern Dicranopteris linearis on
windward Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Journal of Ecology 86 765.
