SIMPLY FERNTASTIC

IMHO, of the most overlooked group of plants in the forests and woodlands are ferns. Here in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, more than 50 different species of ferns are thriving. I can’t claim to be an expert in fern identification and that’s not because they’re difficult, it’s just that I haven’t had the time to really study them to the depths that I’d like to. Perhaps, when I grow up I’ll have more time.

Certainly the most ubiquitous fern we encounter on our woodland walks and hikes is Polystichum acrostichoides, or The “Christmas Fern”. Why do folks call this evergreen fern the “Christmas Fern” you may wonder? Well, there are two reasons and they both involve the individual pinnae or leaf blades on the frond. If you hold them horizontally, they resemble Santa Claus standing up on the back of his sled. If you hold them vertically, they resemble a Christmas stocking. C’mon kids! A little imagination goes a long way here.

My favorite genus in Fernworld is Osmunda. This genus is named for Osmunder, the Saxon equivalent of the god Thor. There are three species of Osmunda in the genus.

Osmunda claytoniana or the “Interrupted Fern” is quite fascinating. The sterile fronds (meaning the ones that are not spore bearing) grow for a while and then pause to produce spore bearing fertile pinnae and then resume growing in the sterile mode again. Osmunda claytoniana is found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the state.

Osmunda regalis or the “Royal Fern” can be easily identified as it produces its fertile spores at the tip of its fronds. Osmunda regalis is found in moist and swampy locations throughout the state. Osmunda regalis reproduces quite quickly via rhizome (underground stems) and by spore....but more on Fern Sex later.

Osmunda cinnamomea known as the “Cinnamon Fern” produces its spores on separate leaf blades arising from the center of the plant. They’re a woolly cinnamon brown color and resemble cinnamon sticks.

Botrychium’s known as “Grape Ferns” because of the attractive shape of their spore clusters which resemble bunches of grapes.  They can be found in well drained soil in the woods and in partially shaded meadows. These ferns are more difficult to transplant than most other ferns due to their dependency on soil fungi that help feed it.

Another curiosity in the Fern World is Camptosorus rhizophyllus AKA the “Walking Fern.” This distinctive little fellow has 4”-12” long leathery leaves that are tapered to a point. It reproduces itself not only by spores, but also by forming new plantlets at the tip of its fronds, that root themselves as the tip comes in contact with the soil. As each new plant becomes established, the process continues and after a few years the newest baby is quite a ways from its mamma.

Dennstaedtia punctilobula is commonly referred to as the “Hay Scented Fern” and with good reason. If you crush the frond, it gives off a fragrance of newly mowed grass. It can be found in large colonies in the full sun of open meadows and in shady woods.

Lygodium palmatum or the “Climbing Fern” is another curiosity among ferns. It grows in acid woods in only 5 of the 55 counties in WV, including Greenbrier. Its winding fronds can get to be over three feet long.

The reproductive life cycle of ferns is quite intriguing. Spores are found in various locations on the different species, usually on the undersides of the fronds. When the time is right and these spores are mature, they’re released. They land in the soil and under favorable conditions, i.e. moisture, light and temperature develop into a prothallus, or small leaf-like structure smaller than a dime. It’s on this structure that microscopic sexual organs are formed and fertilization takes place. Soon afterward a root develops and shortly thereafter a recognizable plant.

This process can be reproduced in the kitchen and you may just end up with thousands of new fern babies. Even if you don’t want to reproduce ferns, it’s fun to take a frond and lay it on a white sheet of paper in a warm location. In 24 hours, the sori (the scientific name for the capsules that enclose the spores) will open and release the spores onto the paper in a beautiful outline of the frond.

Some ferns also reproduce by sending out rhizomes (underground stems) that pop up a foot or so from the main plant with a new plant attached. The “Royal Fern” forms a nice little colony this way very quickly.

Ferns fill a void in the garden. They can add an attractive texture creating a dramatic statement as a single specimen or as a colony in the wild or natural shade garden. They require little attention other than an occasional feeding and cleanup of previous growing season’s fronds depending on how tidy you keep your garden.

There are many other ferns and fern allies too numerous to mention on this small soapbox. If this short intro into the magical world of Ferns has piqued your interest, you can certainly go to Amazon and choose from a plethora of Fern Field Identification guides.

Till our next Horticultural Excursion, Peace Out, Glickster! www.sunfarm.com

barry@sunfarm.com 304-497-2208