To start the year, the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) offers the peacock fern as its Plant of the Month (POM) for January 2020. The “peacock fern” or scientifically known as Selaginella willdenowii Baker belongs to family Selaginellaceae. It is generally found in Malesia, Peninsula of Malaysia and Thailand.
The peacock fern is also known as willdenow spikemoss attributed to its iridescent blue leaves. It is widely used as an ornamental garden plant.
TRIVIA: The blue shimmer that makes its fronds appear blue-greenish is produced by a thin layer cells with lamellar structure in the upper cuticle of its leaves.
Come, visit and explore MBG and see for yourself this terrestrial shrub-like herb!
by: Angela A. Limpiada and Analyn C. Malayba