Java...sword... (LOTS of pics)

[Youkai]

Hey all,

This post is mostly for Shane, who requested this information but has been hiding all week. ;p

Anyway, this stuff is being called java sword. Essentially, it's java fern made to grow more like a sword. It's quite large, and very unusual. I grabbed some leftover bits at work, but they aren't in the best condition. They are improving, however.
Also, these examples are VERY small. We had some in over twice this size.

Here are some pictures. Clearer ones to follow when I get some time. (Don't mind the riccia...it gets on <i>everything</i>)

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword8.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword6.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword7.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword5.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword4.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword3.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword2.jpg">


<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/133sword.jpg">

[Shane Tesser]

Actually..its not new...ive had that stuff for years...its basically a larger species of java fern from what i can tell...and usually at that size its basically at the end of its life cycle....i will bet you any money that smaller plants will start to branch out of the current leafs with little roots...let them grow..then re-attach it...i bought two of those years ago...they were huge and thats exactly what they did...actually your last pic shows that.....youll basically end up with lots of those..and they are slow to grow..unusually slow!!! Sorry....i should have known when you described it to me..ill see if i can dig up some pics of mine....i remember they were almost 24"....looks exactly the same

[Shane Tesser]

I should add...when i bought them..they were just advertised as giant java ferns...to be honest i bought them cause i had never seen them that big before, and never thought anything of it