squirrel's-foot fern: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Horticultural
Quick answer
What does “squirrel's-foot fern” mean?
A type of fern whose fuzzy, brown rhizomes resemble a squirrel's foot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of fern whose fuzzy, brown rhizomes resemble a squirrel's foot.
A common name for several fern species in the genus Davallia, particularly Davallia trichomanoides and Davallia bullata, characterized by thick, hairy rhizomes that grow above ground and are often grown as ornamental houseplants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally specialised. No significant regional variation in terminology exists.
Connotations
Purely descriptive; denotes a specific type of fern popular among houseplant enthusiasts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; used only within gardening, botany, and houseplant communities.
Grammar
How to Use “squirrel's-foot fern” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] squirrel's-foot fern [VERB] on the windowsill.She [VERB] the squirrel's-foot fern in a [ADJ] pot.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “squirrel's-foot fern” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gardener plans to squirrel's-foot fern the shady corner of the conservatory.
adjective
American English
- The squirrel's-foot-fern rhizomes crept over the edge of the pot.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used in botanical texts and plant taxonomy.
Everyday
Used by gardeners and houseplant hobbyists.
Technical
Standard common name in horticulture and botany.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “squirrel's-foot fern”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “squirrel's-foot fern”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “squirrel's-foot fern”
- Incorrectly spelling as 'squirrels foot fern' (without apostrophe or hyphen).
- Confusing it with the similar 'rabbit's foot fern' (a closely related species).
- Using it as a plural ('squirrels'-feet ferns').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very closely related species within the same genus (Davallia) and the common names are often used interchangeably, though strict botanists may distinguish between them.
It prefers bright, indirect light, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Yes, the rhizomes can be carefully divided for propagation, but each new piece must have at least one growing point (a small bud or frond).
The hairs (scales) help protect the rhizomes from drying out and from intense sunlight, and may aid in absorbing moisture from the air.
A type of fern whose fuzzy, brown rhizomes resemble a squirrel's foot.
Squirrel's-foot fern is usually technical/horticultural in register.
Squirrel's-foot fern: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskwɪrəlzˌfʊt fɜːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskwɜːrəlzˌfʊt fɝːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tiny squirrel trying to hide by holding very still, with its fuzzy feet poking out from under the fronds of a fern.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT PARTS ARE ANIMAL BODY PARTS (rhizomes as feet).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary visual characteristic that gives the 'squirrel's-foot fern' its name?