{"product_id":"microsorum-thailandicum-oelfarn","title":"Microsorum thailandicum (oil fern)","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Origin: \u003cstrong\u003eThailand\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Care: \u003cspan style=\"color: #808080;\"\u003eEasy \/\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eMedium\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #808080;\"\u003e\/ Advanced\u003c\/span\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Suitable as a houseplant?: \u003cspan style=\"color: #808080;\"\u003eYes \/ Limited \/\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eNo\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e Suitable locations: \u003cstrong\u003eTerrarium\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n \u003cli\u003eSpecial features: Young plants do not yet show the blue coloration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [porto_content_box border_top_color=\"#1e764d\" border_radius=\"2\" border_top_width=\"2\" align=\"left\"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [expand Title=\" \u003cstrong\u003eDetails about the plant\u003c\/strong\u003e \"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eMicrosorum thailandicum\u003c\/em\u003e is a small fern from the Chumphon province in southern Thailand. It has an apparently relatively small distribution area and has so far only been collected from one mountain in the region. It grows epiphytically or lithophytically in crevices of limestone rocks.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e*M. thailandicum*\u003c\/em\u003e grows with a compact, climbing rhizome. The leaves are linear (long and thin, with a uniform width) and reach approximately 20 to 30 cm in length and 2 to 3 cm in width. They are noticeably thickened and stiff, almost succulent, with a sunken midrib. The upper surface of the leaves is a deep metallic blue. Unlike the blue iridescence of begonias, which can only be observed in the dark when a flashlight or strobe light shines on the leaves from a specific angle, the blue color in \u003cem\u003e*M. thailandicum*\u003c\/em\u003e is always visible. Even wetting the leaves with water does not make the color disappear; on the contrary, it tends to intensify it. The nanostructures responsible for the coloration are different from those found in begonias. Further details can be found in this \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/das-geheimnis-der-blauen-blaetter-irideszenz-und-strukturfarben-bei-pflanzen\/\"\u003eblog post\u003c\/a\u003e .\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe coloration likely serves a different function than the iridescence of most other blue plants. It is thought that in \u003cem\u003eM. thailandicum,\u003c\/em\u003e it acts as sun protection rather than a method of capturing extra light. While this fern does grow in the shady undergrowth of a rainforest, it is not as dense as one might expect. Individual patches of sunlight frequently reach the forest floor, and these are approximately 1,000 to 10,000 times brighter than the ambient light that otherwise reaches the ground. The reflective blue coloration of \u003cem\u003eM. thailandicum\u003c\/em\u003e is thought to protect against precisely this sudden, intense light.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eMicrosorum thailandicum\u003c\/em\u003e is also often sold as \u003cem\u003eMicrosorum steerei\u003c\/em\u003e , but this is a different species.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worldplants.de\/world-ferns\/ferns-and-lycophytes-list\"\u003eHere\u003c\/a\u003e you can see the differences between the two species (enter the names in the search field; a direct link isn't possible). As you can see, the two don't look particularly similar. So why there's this confusion about the names isn't entirely clear to me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/expand]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [\/porto_content_box]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jungle Leaves","offers":[{"title":"small","offer_id":56319058608505,"sku":"Mic002-5","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"large","offer_id":56319058641273,"sku":"Mic002-7","price":49.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8389\/6953\/files\/Microsorum-thailandicum-NEU-05.jpg?v=1764911038","url":"https:\/\/www.jungle-leaves.de\/en\/products\/microsorum-thailandicum-oelfarn","provider":"Jungle Leaves","version":"1.0","type":"link"}