Quick Fern Guide
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Fern Speak: An Illustrated Glossary FROND leaf of the fern RACHIS Quick & Easy Identification Key frond stalk to 20 Southwest Florida Ferns PINNA RACHIS leaves on the blade Sex and the Single Fern And on the next day, plural: pinnae (main stalk, midvein, midrib) The life cycle of most ferns is a little Fern created firmament PINNULES BLADE strange in the plant world (almost like Royal Fern forms hummocks in segments on the top with green herbiferous reincarnation), but any- swamp areas that catch and hold or- pinna PINNA leaves thing that has worked for millions of ganic material to actually form small years must be fairly effective. RHIZOME (part growing out “islands” that help which in turn cre- from rachis) Spores come from fronds of ferns, ate land from water. the stem of the FROND but the fronds do not come directly fro fern; it’s usually The Chain Fern grows in wet, whole leaf– the spores. boggy areas and performs the same on or just under stipe + blade PINNULE Spores from the parent fall to the “land creating” function there. the surface of ground and with an enormous amount (leaf segment) An important factor in the contin- whatever the fern of luck (millions perish for every suc- is growing on ued ecological competitiveness of cess) they will find suitable moisture ferns is that many of them succeed by ROOT PINNA STIPE and light. growing in marginal habitats where very slender MIDVEIN bottom without The tiny single-celled organism other plants cannot survive, and in this green leaves starts to grow by cell division. Soon, except Leather (also called kind of strategy have formed methods Fern are massive; pinna rachis, orderly arrangements of cells form of holding and forming soils for their grow along pinna midrib) little green heart-shaped plants (Pro- own benefit, and coincidentally for a length of stem RHIZOME thallia). These plants are only 1/2 inch greater environmental benefit. (rhizome) ROOT or less across and lie flat on the ground, so most people never notice FIDDLEHEAD them. This is an independent plant What the doctor ordered a new frond still with its own simple “root” system Native Americans heated the stem curled up at the top (rhizoids) to provide it with nutrients and leaves of Resurrection Fern, us- SPORE and water. ing the ointment to treat ulcers and one-celled reproductive unit of non-seed plants; The Prothallium then grows male sores. As a leaf tea, it was used in treat- mature sori are usually reddish-brown and are and female organs on its underside. ing dizziness, headaches, and bleed- Free veins major keys to identifying most ferns; The male organ (Antheridium) pro- ing gums. associated terms duces spermatozoids which will swim Bracken Fern root tea was used for ..... SPORANGIUM ... a spore case via a droplet of water to the egg pro- stomach cramps and diarrhea. Dried ..... SPORANGIA ...... plural of sporangium duced by the female organ (Archego- leaves were smoked to relieve head- ..... SORUS ............... a cluster of sporangia nium). aches. The poulticed root was used to ..... SORI ................... plural of sorus The fertilized egg then begins to treat burns and sores. The wash was grow the Sporophyte, the plant that we used to promote hair growth and as Netted veins know as a fern. an astringent and a tonic. SIMPLE: undivided 1. Like branched slender green sticks................. Whisk Fern FLOATING: free 1. Fronds round, fingertip-size, hairy ........... Water Spangles 1. Fronds hang down, like green linguine .... Shoestring Fern floating on water 1. Fronds irregularly branched like flat twig . Mosquito Fern 1. Fronds wider than 1/2 inch; more erect ............ Strap Fern surface PINNATIFID: cut 1. Fronds 10 inches or longer .................... Golden Polypody nearly to midvein 1. Fronds 6 inches or less ........................ Resurrection Fern PALMATE: 1. Large fronds hang loosely like a limp hand ..... Hand Fern hand-like 1. Small fronds form thick, climbing mats ..... Climbing Fern PINNATE: blades 1. Fronds narrow; pinnae thin; terminal pinna short divided into leaflets 2. Pinnae spaced; frond long ............... Giant Sword Fern attached to main axis. 2. Pinnae close, almost overlapping .............. Sword Fern 1. Pinnae thick, leathery; fronds to 8’...... Giant Leather Fern 1. Terminal pinna longer than other pinnae ....... Swamp Fern Ferns & allies Scientific name commonly found SIMPLE PINNATE- 1. Pinnae opposite, or really close to opposite • Whisk Fern ................... Psilotum nudum .................. on tree trunks PINNATIFID: 2. Sori at pinnule edge; fronds to 4’ ..... Shiny Thelypteris • Shoestring Fern ........... Vittaria lineata ..................... on Cabbage Palm boots separate leaflets on 2. Sori at pinnule midvein; fronds to 2’ ..........Marsh Fern • Strap Fern .................... Camplyloneurum phyllitidis . on cypress knees 1. Pinnae alternate main axis; each PINNATIFID 2. Pinnules rounded ........................................Shield Fern leaflet has cuts • Golden Polypody ......... Phlebodium aureum ........... on Cabbage Palm boots 2. Pinnules taper to point, lobes blunt ............ Chain Fern • Resurrecton Fern ......... Pleopeltis polypodioides ..... on rough barked trees 2. Lobes separated; small hairs all over.......... Wood Fern PINNATE • Giant Sword Fern ......... Nephrolepis biserrata ......... at trail edges near water BIPINNATE: blades 1. Openly branched fronds; spores at blade tip ... Royal Fern • Sword Fern .................. Nephrolepis exaltata ........... everywhere divided into leaflets; • Giant Leather Fern ....... Acrostichum danaeifolium .. in water each leaflet has its • Swamp Fern ................ Blechnum serrulatum .......... almost everywhere own leaves PINNATE-PINNATIFID • Shiny Thelypteris ......... Thelypteris interrupta .......... swamps close to water • Marsh Fern .................. Thelypteris palustris ............ swamps close to water • Shield Fern .................. Dryopteris ludoviciana ........ drier areas on ground • Chain Fern ................... Woodwardia virginica ......... wet prairie edges • Wood Fern ................... Thlypteris kunthii ................. drier areas, trail edges BIPINNATE- 1. Tall; fronds stiff; each blade branches BIPINNATE PINNATIFID: blades into three more ............................................ Bracken Fern • Royal Fern ................... Osmunda regalis ................ wet areas, shade divided into leaflets; each leaflet has its BIPINNATE-PINNATIFID own leaves that are • Bracken Fern ............... Pteridium aqualinium .......... dryer areas, roadsides cut FLOATING • Water Spangles ........... Salvinia minima .................. water where it’s shady • Mosquito Fern .............. Azolla caroliniana ............... still/slow-moving water PALMATE • Hand Fern .................... Ophioglossum palmata ....... tree trunks, palm boots • Climbing Fern .............. Lygodium microphyllum ...... ideally nowhere; forms a mat that blankets all.