Dryopteridaceae: the African water fern and rock ferns

The Dryopteridaceae are a large family of ferns, mostly terrestrial forest species. In the aquarium the known one is Bolbitis, the African water fern, which lives on rocks in flowing rivers. Like all aquarium ferns it is grown tied to rock or wood with the rhizome exposed; buried, it rots. They are slow and long-lived, and appreciate water movement.