ota
about.
Pyrrosia eleagnifolia | ota, leather-leaf fern
A fern with a creeping rhizome that spreads to form dense colonies across rock surfaces, stone walls, and tree trunks. The small, leathery fronds are variable in shape, with a distinctive texture created by fine star-shaped hairs that are sparse above and densely felted beneath. It is well suited to rockeries, walls, and container planting. It commonly self-establishes in urban environments, frequently appearing on the trunks of introduced trees and shrubs in parks, streetscapes, and urban forest remnants, making it a resilient and adaptable species for challenging sites.
typical habitat.
Common as an epiphyte on both indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs
cliffs faces
urban areas on buildings, walls, bridges and fence postsdrainage.
well drained
free draining
sun.
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 15cm
width | 2m
did you know?
Larvae from several moth species have been recorded feeding on both the fronds and sori of P. eleagnifolia. Documented species include Sarisa muriferata, Calicotis crucifera, Philocryptica polypodii, Apoctena taipana, Eudonia zophochlaena, Scoparia illota, and Scoparia molifera.