General Information :

• Fern Tree is a medium-sized tree.
• Leaves are pinnate, leaflets 6-8 pair, smooth, shining, opposite or some alternate, stalkless, linear oblong, 4-6 inches long, with a prominent midrib.
• Flowers are small, numerous, unisexual, in erect narrow panicles, 6-8 inches long, in leaf axils.
• Fruit is Drupe and ovoid. Fruit is purple shining in Nature.

Distribution :

• native to the Western Ghats. Native-Western India, Sri Lanka and Africa

Habitat : Grows best in humid and warm regions

Soil : Strongly alkaline soil is best. Make sure its drainage is good as well to avoid the possibility of root rot.

Terrain : Hills/Plains

Tree Characteristics :

• Not frost tolerant.
• Salt or salinity tolerant

Habit : Evergreen Tree

Natural Regeneration :

• Naturally regenerated by seeds.

Artificial Regeneration :

• Artificial reproduction is common by Nursery raised seedlings.

Seed collection and Storage :

• Flowering and fruiting: March-May.
• Pods are then dried in the sun and broken to extract the seeds and  stored in gunny bags.

Seed Treatment :

• No Pretreatment Required

Nursery Technique :

• Seeds can be sown in semi-shade, either in nursery beds or in individual containers. When fresh seed is used, a germination rate in excess of 80% usually occurs within 8 - 15 days.
• Seedlings should be placed in individual containers by the time they are 6 - 10cm tall, and are ready to plant out when 7 months old.

Plantation technique :

• Dig pits of 30 cm3.
• Fill up the pits with top soil mixed with 10 Kg of FYM and 1 Kg of Neem cake per pit.
• The seedlings are generally planted in pits having the size of 30x30x30 cm. The most common spacing adopted for plantation is 5m x 5m. On road sides, deeper pits of the size of 45 x 45 x 45 cm are preferred.

Care & Disease Control :

• In early stages weeding is necessary. In second year, soil working is important.

Major uses :

• Suitable for avenue planting.
• Recommended for creating shade.
• Planted in parks, gardens or other protected places.