Polypodium scouleri aka Leathery Polypody

Polypodium scouleri, also known as leathery polypody, Scouler's polypody, coast polypody, and leather-leaf fern, is a species of fern native to coastal western North America. It can be found from British Columbia to Guadalupe Island off Baja California. This fern thrives in coastal habitats such as cracks on coastal bluffs, oceanside forests, and beach dunes, where it is exposed to heavy fogs and sea spray. It has a waxy, scaly rhizome that serves as an anchor. The triangular or oblong leaves of Polypodium scouleri can reach a maximum length of 85 centimeters and a width of 8 centimeters. Each leaf is composed of stiff and leathery segments with rounded tips and shallow, rounded teeth along the edges. The underside of the leaf segments is crowded with rounded sori, which contain the spores. As a houseplant, Leathery Polypody is slightly tender and evergreen. Its fronds are broadly ovate to triangular, leathery, thick, and glossy, with a dark green color. While it only grows to a height of around 30 centimeters, it can spread to form a clump over 1 meter wide under ideal conditions. Regular watering is essential for the thriving of this super rare houseplant, which prefers abundant sunlight and should be placed within 3 feet of a window. Well-draining soil is recommended, and repotting is necessary each time the plant doubles in size, eliminating the need for additional fertilizers.