Java Fern "Roots"

[DocOc]

A couple weeks ago, my Java Fern started putting out root-like structures from its leaves. Eventually they detached. I thought I would leave them in there a while to see what happened. Nothing did. They just got stuck in my filter. I know ferns reproduce in odd ways, so I was hoping this was exactly that. No such luck, I think.

Sorry, didn't get a pic.

Any ideas?

 

[Jchillin]

You've described Java fern propagation. What should be occuring is small plantlets (small twins) of the mother plant. It appears that they are not surviving for some reason, hence the premature detachment. They could also be detaching due to fast currents in your water column.

 

[DocOc]

These plantlets are about a foot long sometimes. Is that normal?