LEC 08 LOCAL FLORA – Lecture 08 Dr. Donald P. Althoff Fern Terms & Ohio Natives

Common ladyfern Christmas fern

Ferns: some quick review & facts About _________ species worldwide They would generally be considered “________________” They represent the “first” major _____________ _______________….compare this to the mosses

LEAF, BLADE or (root, trunk, stock) 4

Basic Morphology - Terms LEAF = BLADE = = is the flat, green, expanded part leaves/fronds vary in size and shape according to species Some species have different sizes and shapes for fertile and sterile leaves ex. sensitive fern ostrich fern Contains rachis + leaflets (pinnae) 1

Basic Morphology - Terms STALK = STIPE = supports the leaf below axis (i.e., first set of leaves/fronds Usually flat or concave in front Usually rounded in the back Young stems typically covered with hairs or scales 2

Basic Morphology - Terms ROOTS usual forms are thin, wiry, black, and forking. Shallow. Grow from sides and undersides of rhizome RHIZOME the part of a fern from which the fronds (leaves) and roots grow supports roots below and stalk above 3 4

Leaflet or Pinna (pinnae = plural) 5 Rachis = axis = midrib 6

5 6 7 Leaflet Terminology Teeth 8

Leaflet / Pinna breakdown… 1-leaflet highlighted 1-pinnule/subleaf highlighted 1-lobe highlighted

Leaflet / Pinna breakdown… “cut” (once divided) “cut” (twice divided) “cut” (thrice divided)

Leaf base shapes at base at base to base

Ohio Fern Species (partial listing) maidenhair fern lady fern bulbet bladder fern hay-scented fern crested shield fern giant wood fern evergreen wood fern marginal shield fern ostrich fern sensitive fern royal fern cinnamon fern Christmas fern Acknowledgement: most fern pictures are by Walter Mura, Ontario

Maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum Thrice-divided

Lady fern Athyrium filix-femina Thrice-divided

Bulbet bladder fern Cystopteris bulbifera Thrice-divided

Hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula Thrice-divided

Crested shield fern Dryopteris cristata Twice-divided

Giant Wood Fern (goldie’s wood fern) Dryopteris goldiana Twice-divided

Intermediate woodfern (Evergreen wood fern) Dryopteris intermedia Thrice-divided

Marginal shield fern (marginal woodfern) Dryopteris marginalis Twice-divided

Sori A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of a fern frond

Sporangia = sporophyll A cluster of sporangia borne on an erect stalk….cut- leaved grapefern

Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Twice-divided

Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis Once-divided

Royal Fern Osmunda regalis Twice-divided

Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Twice-divided whitish velvet coating on lower stems and fiddleheads

Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides Once-divided