#dryopteridaceae

[dat-aster]

Polystichum lemonii growing on a serpentine outcropping in the North Cascades

[drhoz]

#1905 - Polystichum vestitum - Prickly Shield Fern

Also known as pūnui. Polystichum refers to the parallel rows of spore cases on the underside of the fronds, and vestitum (Latin for "clothed") denotes the dense cover of the scales on its leaf stalks. Fronds grow up to 600mm in length.

An evergreen or semi-green, cold-tolerant fern most common on New Zealand’s South Island, and a wide spread of Subantarctic islands. 

In the northern part of its range P. vestitum is confined to montane regions or where temperature inversions keep the climate cold, but further south it can grow right down to the coast. Found in exposed habitats, such as forest margins, gulley floors and tussock grasslands, but it also commonly extends into forest in colder, wetter parts of New Zealand. On Macquarie Island it dominates the fernbrake communities, but is severely threatened by rabbits. 

These ones were high in the middle of the South Island near Aoraki Mount Cook. It can be grown in cultivation, quite easily, but it slow to establish. Insect predators of the fern include the the tiny caterpillar of the "pūnui spore-eater", the "pale fern looper", and the "zigzag fern looper". 

[cedar-glade]

Two members of the shield fern family, Dryopteridaceae

Diplazium pycnocarpon, glade fern, prefers high moisture and humidity and does well in dense shade, often I see this species not in glades but in ravines prone to some flooding living away from the bashside of rocks(sheltered side) and as a chasmophyte, a crack dwelling plant; but to clarify it is lithophitic, rock loving, but not having an epipetric( living on rocks soley) habit.). (epipetric is a delineate rock obligate)

Dryopteris marginalis, marginal wood fern/shield fern, more generalistic to light often on embankments and highly organic soil. I feel like this one is more generalistic than most and is almost as common as christmas fern.

[californiabotanycertification]

Polystichum imbricans, Narrowleaf Sword Fern

Polystichum imbricans, Narrowleaf Sword Fern

perennial fern

KEY

terrestrial plant with no flowers or bulbs sporangia present

Herbs reproducing by spores released directly from sporangia, the sporangia variously located [on abaxial leaf  face, [LYCOPHYTES and FERNS]

Plant terrestrial l; leaf 1-2 pinnate,; sporangia borne on aerial portion of leaf

Leaves all alike or nearly so, the fertile [sporangium-bearing] blades very similar in size and shape to sterile blades sporangia borne on underside of leaf  blade, new leaves generally coiled, unrolling as they develop

Sori borne away from margin on underside of leaf  or leaflet, sporangia clustered in distinct sori; indusia present

Sori ± round

Blade without needle-like hairs

Indusium peltate  or round-reniform, attached ± in center of sorus , generally present and readily observable in late-season specimens ..... DRYOPTERIDACEAE

- Indusium peltate , centrally attached, without a sinus

- Veins generally free, rarely ± joined; leaf 1–3-pinnate, teeth, generally including bristle-like tips, < 4 mm ..... POLYSTICHUM

-Leaf generally 1-pinnate, rarely to partly 2-pinnate; pinnae generally simple, ± entire to serrate, in Polystichum kruckebergii sometimes 1-lobe

Leaf 10–120(200) cm; pinnae simple

Proximal pinnae ovate to lanceolate , ± = to ± 2/3 longest; stipe generally 1/5–1/2 blade

Stipe base scales lanceolate, ± 2–3 mm wide, those above proximal pinnae generally < 1 mm wide, falling early; pinnae ± in 1 plane or not; indusium ± entire to toothed ..... P. imbricans

DESCRIPTION

Rhizome: generally suberect to erect, often stout

Stipe/petiole: generally 1/5--1/2 of blade Stout, firm, generally densely scaly, base scales +- 2--3 mm wide, lanceolate, those above proximal pinnae generally, ×-section with many round vascular strands in an arc.

Blade: narrow-lanceolate to -elliptic, 1-pinnate,, proximal pinnae reduced or not, thin to leathery, scaly, veins generally free, rarely +- jointed; pinna bases often wider acroscopically; teeth, generally including bristle-like tip

Sporangia: sori round; indusium peltate [0 or reniform], sinus 0. indusium +- entire to toothed

SOURCES AND MORE INFORMATION

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=17681#null

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POIM

https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=10784

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58763-Polystichum-imbricans

https://calphotos.berkeley.edu

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeFidZIrKxT/

https://wildflowersearch.org/search

Jepson Herbarium Youtube Polystichum Munitum

[wildflowers-of-southern-ontario]

Marginal Wood Fern Dryopteris marginalis Dryopteridaceae

Photographs taken on December 5, 2020, at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, Niagara Falls, Canada.

[hortushorrei]

Polystichum setiferum, a gift from my friend Marta. #gardensofinstagram #felci #beautifulferns #softshieldfern #dryopteridaceae #iloveferns #fernsofinstagram #europeanferns #lamacchinafissa #parcodelmincio #provinciadimantova #associazioneculturalereadingretreatsinruralitaly #readandrelax #readingretreatsinruralitaly (presso La Macchina Fissa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRuAqs3Ies-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[natureinsight]

Dryopteris filix-mas, kivikkoalvejuuri

[stefano-bonalume]

Dryopteris filix-mas | Athyrium filix-femina | Dryopteris dilatata