Davallia

The Davallia genus of ferns includes about three dozen species of ferns that all share a quirky and kind of delightful trait: they all grow from creeping rhizomes that are fuzzy and covered with a fine fur-like mat of hairs. This fuzzy rhizome has earned the Davallia species their common names: deer's foot ferns, squirrel's foot ferns, and rabbit's foot fern, among others. The idea is that the fuzzy, ground-level rhizomes resemble animal feet. In their native habitat, these ferns are often epiphytic, which explains their creeping rhizomes. In indoor cultivation, they are frequently grown as hanging plants or long-term potted plants. Although the rhizomes do extend below the surface of the soil, they should never be buried. These roots serve something of the same function as orchid roots. They cling onto surfaces and draw moisture and nutrients from the air and environment. Instead, let the rhizomes grow uncontrolled until they cascade from the container and add a cool visual note to your fern.