Reviewed public profile

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum, widely known as the Green Penny Fern or Japanese Beard Fern, is a miniature epiphytic fern native to East and Southeast Asia. Its natural origin spans regions of China, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and various Asiatic Islands. This slow-growing, semi-succulent plant thrives in shaded, highly humid forests, where it grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks or as a sprawler on mossy rocks. It belongs to the family Polypodiaceae and was formally described by the botanist Carl Presl in 1851.

Growing profile

At a glance

Plant type
fern
Typical size
micro <4cm
Humidity
70–95%

Native context

Distribution and habitat

Countries
China, India, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam
Elevation
Lowland (0–500 m), Submontane (500–1,000 m)
Flowering
Non-flowering

Derived growing context

Climate range

Temperature profile
Cool → Hot
Mean temperature
10–25 °C
Day temperature
13–29 °C
Night temperature
7–22 °C
Summer mean
19–26 °C
Winter mean
9–16 °C
Temperature span
22 °C
Annual temperature swing
3–17 °C
Seasonality
Aseasonal, Four seasons
Adaptability
Adaptable

Country map loads as it comes into view. The country list remains available here.

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • North Korea
  • Philippines
  • South Korea
  • Vietnam

Country boundaries: Natural Earth, public domain.

Ecosystem evidence

Habitat-specific growing context

Rainforest

Consistently wet; high humidity

Latitude
Tropical
Moisture
Very humid
Elevation
Lowland, Submont
Seasonality
Aseasonal
Mean temperature
22–25 °C
Day temperature
25–28 °C
Night temperature
19–22 °C
Annual temperature swing
3 °C

Wet forest

Very humid forest; frequent wetness

Latitude
Subtropical, Tropical
Moisture
Humid, Very humid
Elevation
Lowland, Submont
Seasonality
Aseasonal
Mean temperature
21–25 °C
Day temperature
24–29 °C
Night temperature
18–22 °C
Annual temperature swing
3–8 °C

Moist forest

Moderately humid forest

Latitude
Subtropical
Moisture
Humid
Elevation
Lowland
Seasonality
Aseasonal
Mean temperature
21 °C
Day temperature
25 °C
Night temperature
18 °C
Annual temperature swing
8 °C

Temperate rainforest

Cool/wet coastal orographic forests

Latitude
Cool temperate, Warm temperate
Moisture
Very humid
Elevation
Lowland
Seasonality
Four seasons
Mean temperature
10–16 °C
Day temperature
13–19 °C
Night temperature
7–13 °C
Annual temperature swing
14–17 °C

Temperate forest

Four-season forest zones

Latitude
Cool temperate, Warm temperate
Moisture
Humid
Elevation
Lowland
Seasonality
Four seasons
Mean temperature
10–16 °C
Day temperature
14–20 °C
Night temperature
7–13 °C
Annual temperature swing
14–17 °C

Seasonal context

  • Very small annual temperature swing; fairly consistent through the year
  • Pronounced annual temperature swing (temperate climates)

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Stable BJURNY record: tx_e90e438b5ff1428ea283