Interrupted Fern

 

Osmunda Claytoniana

Of the Osmunda, primitive fern, family. The sori are located south of mid center of the frond, causing the “interruption” that coined this fern’s name. The sori dry and turn a dark brown. Fertile fronds are taller than the non-fertile and will reach heights up to 4 feet and widths from 6 to 12 inches.

It very much resembles it’s related, Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea, except for the fertile fronds bearing the dark brown, withered sori a third the way down. It also is defined by color, which is a lighter yellow-green and it lacks the cinnamon “wool” of cinnamomea wears on it’s stipe and under leafs.

It is one of the first ferns to appear in Spring. In the fall the leaves will fade to a light brown. All leaves wither at first frosts. It is common on road banks, open areas, or moist woods, not near water persa. It is common in Eastern North America and in Eastern Aisia.

Sources:

Mickel, John T. , How to Know the Ferns and the Fern Allies, 1979

Venable, Introduction to West VIriginia Ferns

Cobb, Boughton, A Field Guide to the Ferns, 1956

Royal Fern

Osmunda Regalis

One of the three of the ferns in the Osmunda family in North America. These ferns are one of the more primitive and simple ferns, in cellular structure and cell division, reproductive processes. Royal, Interrupted and Cinnamon make the set of large frond, land ferns, Osmunda, locally. However, in the world over there are 14 species that can be found in tropical and subtropical regions.

Regalis, Royal, fern  bipinnate blade as opposed to others in it’s family. It’s fronds will grow 2 to 6 feet tall and span up to twenty inches in width, growing in clumps from it’s rootstocks that creep along the area. The rootstock is elongated, nodding to ancient tree fern ancestors of the past.

When identifying the leaflets are though to resemble Locust tree leaves and with it’s oval, lance-shaped leaves that are spaced apart very distinctly. It isn’t a delicate or whimsical fern, but fine none the less. It’s stem is naked, except for a few scattered hairs.  These ferns have their sori on the upper pinnae which is feathery, almost cinnamon colored. In spring, a smooth, stout, wine colored fiddlehead unravels.

A hybrid borne of Regalis and Claytoniana (interrupted), named Osumanda Ruggii,   is exceedingly rare, however the Royal Fern itself occurs commonly in wet areas, even in standing water,  and in most countries.

Sources:

Mickel, John T. , How to KNow the Ferns and the Fern Allies, 1979

Venable, Introduction to West VIriginia Ferns

Cobb, Boughton, A Field Guide to the Ferns, 1956

 

Broad Beech Fern

Phegopteris hexagonoptera

Beech Ferns have triangular leaves, like the Oak Fern. One of the two Beech Ferns, Broad Beech Fern, has a winged stem, all of it’s leaflets wing at axis, and the lowest set of leaflets point downward. It grows in dry woods and moist thickets. It prefers the sunny, open spots where it stands erect and gathering rays. Will be amidst New York Ferns before it would it’s fellow Beech, the Long Beech Fern that adores rocks and running waters. Fruitdots are small and scattered near margins. No indusium. The stalk is slender, slightly hairy, and straw colored.

New York Fern

Photo by Karri Roberts

Thelypteris Noveboracensis

Tapers each way, meaning lower pairs of leafets will visibly diminish in size as they go down the stalk (pale, smooth, and slender), which makes it one of the easier ferns to identify.  The wispy fern grows in bunches usually in the sunny spots of woods or thickets. Fronds are 8 top 24 inches long. Overall delicate, the fruitdots are covered  by pale, kidney shaped indusia, near margins.  Usually far from wood ferns that like a marsh, for New York Fern prefers dryer regions.

sources:

Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Silvery Athyrium

Silvery Athyrium photo by Karri Roberts

 

 

Athyrium Thelypterioides

Greek: a– without, thureos- shield

Last set of leaves usually point downward on the Silvery Athyrium which grows in clumps in wet forests or rich shaded woodlands. I was initially torn that this Athyrium was possibly a Low Lady Fern, however after closer inspection of field guide,s the fruit dots are making my final decision more concrete.  The fruitcover, or indusim, shines like silver when the fern is young, hence it’s name. Frods are 2 to 3 foot in height, soft or dulled green in color, and known primarily by their arching fruitdots that fade to a light brown, or tan color as shown in the photo.

sources: Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Oak Fern

 

Oak Fern photo by Karri Roberts Monongahela National Forest, WV

 

 

Gymnocarpium Dryopteris

Greek: gymnos – naked, karpos– fruit. Small and delicate, triangular appearance overall, the Oak Fern is found in colder woods or higher elevations with the spruces though they are not evergreen.  Also common in wet, swamp areas, the oak fern has a circular sori and no covering membrane, fruitcover or indusium, over the fruitdots. It is absent from areas with a higher lime content as well as rare in Ireland, it is also sometimes referred to as Northern Oak Fern.  It has a delicate fiddlehead that appears year round.

sources: Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Cinnamon Fern

Osmunda cinnamomea

 Fronds up to 6 feet high on this stunning and prolific fern that grows in a circle formation from horsehair like roots. The name is derivied from the cinnamon colored “wool” at base of leaflets next to it’s smooth, round stalk, it’s fiddlehead that appears in early spring with tiny, silvery hairs and turns cinnamon as leaves expand and, in late spring, by it’s cinnamon, club like leaves .  Cinnamon fern adores wet, damp areas such as bogs, ponds and lakes.

sources: Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum Pedatum , photo by K.Roberts

Adiantum Pedatum

Greek: a-without, diainem-to wet. Refers to the way the leaves shed water.

Delicate and graceful/ Usually under a foot in height. Prefers shady, cool areas. Whorled growth form. Forked purple, black stalk. 226 species. 2 species in the US. Fruit dots form in margins of lobes. Leaflets will curl over fruit dots.

sources: Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Sensitive or Bead Fern

Photo by K. Roberts, Gauley Ranger District Station of the Monongahela Forest, Nicholas County, WV

Onoclea Sensibilis

 

Sturdy, triangular leaves. Dies quickly during first frost.  Pale red fiddleheads in Spring. Occurs in every country. Common. Spores on separate stalks, like hard beads. Leaflets are wavy edged. lowest leaflets sometimes pointing downward. Prefers damp places, full sun or shade. Pale red fiddleheads in spring.

sources:

Cobb, B. (1980) A Field Guide to Ferns
Vernable, N. Introduction to Ferns of West Virginia

Christmas Tree Fern

Christmas Tree Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides

Evergreen. Used for Christmas Decoration. Earlike projection on leaf resembles Santa’s Hat. Most common fern in West Virginia.