1. “ THE SPLEENWORT FAMILY ” JENNIFER RINGGOLD Aspleniaceae

2. 1-3 genera 700 species of ferns Huge house plants Simple, pinnate, bipinnate or even tripinnate Epiphytes or lithophytes or terrestrial (under the right temperate conditions)  Meaning they grow upon other plant, buildings, and or rocks. Contain linear sori and flap-like indusium

3. A sorus (plural: sori) is a cluster of sporangia. Indusium: a film like tissue that makes a cover to protect the sori

4. Drypoteris cristata (Crested Wood-Fern) Habitat:  Wet meadows, cedar/spruce forested wetlands, or open shrubby wetlands  Soils are high in organic material Fertile leaves dying back in winter while the sterile leaves (several & small), green through winter, forming a “rosette ”.

5. Athyrium filix-femina (Lady-Fern) 1 to 3 feet Non-flowering Part shade to full shade, and damp woodland Low maintenance= great house plant Rhizomes and young fronds are poisonous but edible after cooking

6. References Murakami, N., S. Nogami, M. Watanabe, K. Iwatsuki. 1999. Phylogeny of Aspleniaceae inferred from rbcL nucleotide sequences. American Fern Journal 89: 232-243 www.forestryimages.org Wikipedia contributors. “Spori." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Mar. 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. "Aspleniaceae." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 26 Apr. 2010.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/39036/Aspleniaceae