Weed watch: the fern, Drymoglossum piloselloides (L.) Presl. in Malaysia

A fern, Drymoglossum piloselloides has spread rapidly to colonise rubber, cocoa, coconut, durian, starfruit, mango, coffee, oil palm, Acacia spp., Ficus spp., and other ornamental trees. It is generally and traditionally regarded as an epiphytic fern but recently, serious concern has been expressed on its association with dying branches of rubber, cocoa, durian, starfruit, mango and coffee. Extensive masses of the fern have a smothering, shading and strangulation effect on young leaves, shoots, buds and flowers. The basal mat of roots becomes a medium for sooty moulds, algae and lichens. It may well be that the weed accelerates the dieback of branches possibly by nutrien depletion, shading and suppression of new shoot growth. Its secondary effects relates to the creation of a moist micro-environment which encourages the proliferation of leaf diseases and other micro-organisms. The review paper discusses the identification, distribution and control of D. piloselloides