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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
- Ferns are fascinating: Fortune's Drynaria
On a Comphor Tree in the ecological park, two types of leaves from Fortune's Drynaria embrace the tree trunk, adding a unique beauty of life and decay to the majestic tree.
Fortune's Drynaria is a terrestrial or lithophytic fern. Due to its growth environment, which often lacks sufficient moisture and nutrients, it has developed its own survival mechanisms to cope with the harsh conditions. As a result, it has evolved two distinct types of leaves, each with its own functions.
The two types of leaves of Fortune's Drynaria are:
1.Ordinary Leaves (Nutrient Leaves): These are green, elongated, and have petioles. They are responsible for photosynthesis and reproduction.
2. Humus-Collecting Leaves: These leaves have almost no petioles, are short and broad with a palm-like shape, and are adapted to collect dust and moisture from the air to support the plant's growth. They start out green but gradually turn brown after a few days, resembling dead leaves. Despite their appearance, they are living leaves with a net-like surface.
The ordinary leaves (nutrient leaves) of Fortune's Drynaria have a joint at the base of the petiole. During prolonged drought, these leaves will fall off to reduce water loss. At this time, the plant relies on the humus-collecting leaves to sustain itself. The spore clusters are round and are densely distributed between the veins and leaf margins of the leaf segments.
