Java fern doing something weird

[Brhino]

I've been watching this leaf growing on one of my java ferns. It's sort of buried in the middle of the forest so I couldn't get a great set of photos, but take a look:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c376/starmike82/DSC_0980.jpg
This is leaf growing off of the rhizome just like all the others. All sorts of oddities about it, though. For one, it's red. Also, the stem is branching off in three places, and the leaf itself is growing just around the three stems. It looks like this red claw coming out of the fern.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

[ScottishFish]

Interesting, maybe just a mutation?

[dmagerl]

I have a fern that does that too. Its just a normal everyday java fern but three leaves have that trident look and developed just like yours.

Don't know why it does it.

[HarryB]

i also have java ferns with the leaves branching off in three directions however i have never experienced the leaves being red

[DrNic]

I've seen others post similar photos. Some have suggested that leaves like this are the java fern version of a flower.

[Fishin Phil]

I recently bought a trident java fern. All the leaves on that plant do that. Is this just one leaf on an other wise "normal" java fern?

[Brhino]

yup, just the one.