(definition)
"Wave moss", formerly thought to be Loxogramme (a fern genus of family Polypodiaceae as well, but very different from Microsorum pteropus), has turned out as a Microsorum pteropus prothallium; it differs a little bit from the "Needle leaf" prothallium. Interestingly that even the prothallia show variation between the pteropus forms.
Sometimes erroneously sold as "Loxogramme" . The Java fern prothalliums can be distinguished from liverworts such as Riccardia and (much bigger) Mosolenium ("Pellia") as well as Lomariopsis prothallium by dark brown rhizoids instead of colourless, whiteish ones.
The sporophyte ("actual" fern plant) that develops on it shows clearly the features of M. pteropus. It seems to be a rather small, broad-leaved form. I know a variant with this look as "Sri Lanka"; maybe it's the same.
Heiko Muth
