Pteris cretica var. cretica

English name: Cretan brake fern, ‘Cretica’

Latin name: Pteris cretica var. cretica

Family: Orliczkowate - Pteridaceae

Origin: Europe, Asia, Africa

This is a fern whose leaves have long petiole stems; they are single and alternate, consisting of several large leaflets. The leaves are up to 30 cm. long and are of two types: the larger, more raised, spore-bearing leaves, and the smaller, arched and drooping leaves.  The cretica variety has uniformly dark green leaves. The plant produces rhizomes. The sporangia are formed on the edges of the rolled-up leaflets. In climates like Poland’s, this fern is grown as an indoor plant.