Month: July 2018

Native To State: NO
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Cystopteris protrusa is a delicate fern known for its finely divided fronds and fragile appearance.

Fronds: The fronds are finely divided and appear delicate.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist woodlands and rocky slopes.

Distribution: Lowland fragile fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Found on outcropping on fern walk

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Hexagonoptera hexagonoptera is a fern known for its fronds that are shaped like a hexagon.

Fronds: The fronds have a distinctive hexagonal shape.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist woodlands.

Distribution: Hexagonoptera fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Found along fern walk

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Adiantum pedatum is a delicate fern known for its fan-shaped fronds and wiry, black stems.

Fronds: The fronds are fan-shaped and composed of numerous small leaflets.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist, shaded woodlands.

Distribution: Maidenhair fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Found near the crick and along the fern walk

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Polypodium virginianum is a fern known for its evergreen fronds with spore clusters on the undersides.

Fronds: The fronds are evergreen and pinnately divided.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found on rocky outcrops and cliffs.

Distribution: Rock polypody is native to North America.

Occurrence
Found in the rock outcropping on the fern walk.

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Osmundastrum cinnamomeum is a large fern known for its upright, fertile fronds and distinctive cinnamon-colored spore-bearing structures.

Fronds: It has two types of fronds – sterile, green fronds and fertile, cinnamon-colored fronds.

Sori: The cinnamon-colored structures are fertile fronds bearing spores.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands and along streams.

Distribution: Cinnamon fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Several specimens found along fern walk as well as near creek and in the back 40 spring area.

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: NO

Description

Appearance: Polystichum braunii is a fern known for its evergreen fronds with spore clusters on the undersides.

Fronds: The fronds are evergreen, lance-shaped, and pinnately divided.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist woodlands.

Distribution: Braun’s holly fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Several specimens found along fern walk

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Thelypteris palustris is a fern known for its delicate fronds and pinnately divided leaves.

Fronds: The fronds are delicate, pinnately divided, and taper toward the tip.

Sori: It produces sori (spore clusters) on the undersides of the fronds.

Habitat: It is commonly found in wetlands, marshes, and along stream banks.

Distribution: Marsh fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Found along the edge of the old beaver pond marsh and the former pasture woods.

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Appearance: Onoclea sensibilis is a fern known for its sensitive response to frost, causing the fronds to wither.

Fronds: The fronds are pinnately divided, and the fertile fronds have bead-like structures (sori) along the midrib.

Sori: Fertile fronds bear bead-like sori along the midrib.

Habitat: It is commonly found in moist woodlands and along stream banks.

Distribution: Sensitive fern is native to North America.

Occurrence
Along fern walk and in various locations of the back 40 woods.

Native To State: YES
Naturally Occurring: YES

Description

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) is a large and striking fern species belonging to the Onocleaceae family. Here are some key identification characteristics:

Appearance: Ostrich fern is a tall and imposing fern that can reach heights of 2 to 6 feet (60 to 180 centimeters). It has a distinctive vase-shaped growth habit.

Fronds: The fronds of Matteuccia struthiopteris are large and pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into leaflets along a central rachis (stalk). The fronds have a feather-like appearance, with each leaflet being lance-shaped and finely dissected.

Fiddleheads: One of the most recognizable features of ostrich fern is its fiddleheads, which are tightly coiled and emerge in the spring. These young, tender fronds unfurl into the larger, mature fronds.

Frond Color: The fronds are typically bright green, adding a lush and vibrant touch to the landscape.

Sori: On the undersides of the fronds, you can find small, brown, bead-like structures called sori. The sori are arranged in two rows on each side of the midrib of each leaflet.

Habitat: Ostrich fern is native to various regions of North America and can be found in a variety of habitats, including moist woodlands, stream banks, and wet meadows. It prefers rich and consistently moist soils.

Distribution: The species is found in regions ranging from northern Canada to the northeastern and central parts of the United States.

Conservation: Ostrich fern is not considered a threatened species, and its striking appearance makes it a popular choice for ornamental plantings.

Other Species: Matteuccia struthiopteris is part of the Matteuccia genus, which includes other fern species with similar characteristics.

Ostrich fern is admired for its commanding presence and graceful fronds, making it a favored choice for shaded gardens, woodland landscapes, and even wetland areas. Its fiddleheads are considered a culinary delicacy in some regions and are harvested for culinary use when young and tender.

Occurrence
Multiple specimens found along fern walk and on the western side of the former pastured woods.