Habitat and Ecology
​Huperzia nummulariifolia, also known as Tassel Fern or Coin-Leaf Huperzia, is an unusual epiphytic lycophyte (primitive vascular plant) native to a wide area of Southeast Asia, including the Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Malaya, Borneo, and New Guinea. It is a plant of the tropical wet biome, growing high in the rainforest canopy on moss-covered tree trunks and branches. It requires constantly high humidity and dappled light, where its structure allows it to absorb moisture and nutrients directly from the air and accumulated debris.
​Description
​This striking plant is an evergreen perennial that produces long, pendent, rope-like stems that can eventually trail up to 1 metre (3 feet) in length, making it ideal for hanging displays. Its most distinctive feature, reflected in the name nummulariifolia (meaning 'coin-leaf'), is its small, flat, round to coin-shaped leaves that are densely arranged and overlap tightly along the stems. The stems display a pattern of dichotomous (forked) branching, leading to a highly symmetrical and braided appearance. The foliage is a deep, glossy green that can create a dense, living curtain. Being a lycophyte, it does not flower but reproduces via spores formed in kidney-shaped sporangia at the base of the leaves along the stems.
​Cultivation
​Huperzia nummulariifolia is a delicate plant that requires a warm, humid environment, best suited for a greenhouse, large terrarium, or bright bathroom in the UK. It needs bright, indirect light or semi-shade; while it likes good light to maintain its colour, direct sun will quickly scorch the leaves. As a true epiphyte, it is often grown mounted on cork bark or potted in a highly aerated medium like pure sphagnum moss or an orchid mix containing fine bark. The medium must be kept consistently moist—water roughly every three days or when the top layer of moss/bark is dry—but never waterlogged. High humidity (70-90%) is crucial for this species.
​Optimal Daytime Temperature: 20-30 C(68-86 F)
​Minimum Temperature: Must be kept above 15 C (59 F); ensure good air movement to prevent mould in high humidity.
​Feed sparingly (monthly during the growing season) with a dilute, balanced liquid fertiliser, such as an orchid food.
​Unique Features
​This lycophyte is a truly unusual collector's plant prized for its long, cascading, rope-like habit and its unique coin-shaped, glossy leaves that give it a highly ornamental, 'beaded curtain' appearance. Its prehistoric nature as a living member of an ancient plant lineage adds significant botanical appeal. It is an ideal, low-maintenance hanging plant for high-humidity environments, providing a stunning vertical display.
​Specifications
​Plant Size: (user input)
​Plant Family: buer