The DNR Wildlife Viewing Grants Program emphasizes species and habitats that are conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. The plan is a comprehensive strategy to conserve native species and the habitats they need before these animals, plants and places become more rare and costly to conserve or restore.
Ferns at Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve
A large number of ferns are found within the Preserve - spread throughout the slope and especially in wetter spots. Some are evergreen, others deciduous; some common, others not; a few non-native invasive.
Bracken Fern (Pteridium spp.) - many species of Bracken (bräken Swedish meaning fern). Large triangular fronds that spread thru underground roots; deciduous with spores on underside of fronds. Grows in habitats from dry to shady.
Broad Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) - a native perennial that prefers moist shady soil, often under Beech trees.
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) - a native perennial evergreen fern common in mesic (moderate moisture) hardwood forests. Looking at the frond sideways with leaflets pointing down, each looks like a small Christmas stocking.
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) - a native perennial evergreen fern common in small clumps all around the Preserve. The center stem is dark brown to black thus the common name “Ebony.” This Spleenwort reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf.
Netted Chain Fern (Lorinseria areolata syn. Woodwardia areolata) - a native perennial that prefers wet places with acidic soil. Fertile fronds are larger than sterile with spores on underside of leaflets. Looks similar to Sensitive Fern. One thing you learn about botany is the botanical names change as more is know about a species, genus, or family. Some species may have a dozen synonyms.
Virginia Chain Fern (Anchistea virginica syn. Woodwardia virginica) - a native deciduous perennial growing in wet places with tall fronds similar to Cinnamon Ferns. Spores cover the underside of leaflets in double rows each.
Mariana Maiden Fern (Macrothelypteris torresiana) - non-native species from tropical/subtropical Africa and Asia and listed as invasive in Florida. Similar in appearance, growth and location to the Chain Ferns.
Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis michauxiana) - common and easily found growing on trees branches such as Live Oak. With lack of moisture, the leaves dry out and then resurrect with rain.
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) - a native deciduous perennial; prefers shady moist soil. The name comes from its sensitivity to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it. Sterile fronds are 3-4 feet; fertile half that. Spores form bean-like clusters.
Southern Grape-Fern (Sceptridium biternatum) - a native perennial; usually a single dissected leaf emerges in summer and persists into winter. A spore-producing stem will arise and look like tiny grapes. Gently touching may release a cloud of spores. Common in some places but not so much at the Preserve.
Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) - a native perennial; prefers shady moist soil. This Lady Fern reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf. Listed as Threatened species in Florida.
Southern Shield Fern (Pelazoneuron kunthii) - a native deciduous perennial; prefers shady moist soil. Reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf. Common
Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana) - a native perennial evergreen fern; prefers shady wet; fronds up to 3 feet. Larger fronds are fertile while smaller are sterile.
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) - highly invasive Climbing Fern in a variety of habitats from mesic to xeric (dry). Introduced in the 1930s in Florida as an ornamental. Vines grow extensively and can cover a young tree killing it. Vines are thin but tough and provide an easy support for emergent vines in the spring. Leaflets are either sterile or fertile, the latter are crinkly and dissected with 1,000s of spores on underside that are easily airborne and spread far. Small infestations can be dug out with hairy rhizomes about 2” in the ground.
Japanese False Spleenwort (Deparia petersenii) - non-native and invasive perennial; similar to and grows where Lady Ferns are found.
***** Sources
Wikipedia; Alabama Plant Atlas (A. Diamond); The Ferns of Florida by Gil Nelson; personal observations (S. Copeland)
Ferns at Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve
A large number of ferns are found within the Preserve - spread throughout the slope and especially in wetter spots. Some are evergreen, others deciduous; some common, others not; a few non-native invasive.
Bracken Fern (Pteridium spp.) - many species of Bracken (bräken Swedish meaning fern). Large triangular fronds that spread thru underground roots; deciduous with spores on underside of fronds. Grows in habitats from dry to shady.
Broad Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) - a native perennial that prefers moist shady soil, often under Beech trees.
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) - a native perennial evergreen fern common in mesic (moderate moisture) hardwood forests. Looking at the frond sideways with leaflets pointing down, each looks like a small Christmas stocking.
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) - a native perennial evergreen fern common in small clumps all around the Preserve. The center stem is dark brown to black thus the common name “Ebony.” This Spleenwort reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf.
Netted Chain Fern (Lorinseria areolata syn. Woodwardia areolata) - a native perennial that prefers wet places with acidic soil. Fertile fronds are larger than sterile with spores on underside of leaflets. Looks similar to Sensitive Fern. One thing you learn about botany is the botanical names change as more is know about a species, genus, or family. Some species may have a dozen synonyms.
Virginia Chain Fern (Anchistea virginica syn. Woodwardia virginica) - a native deciduous perennial growing in wet places with tall fronds similar to Cinnamon Ferns. Spores cover the underside of leaflets in double rows each.
Mariana Maiden Fern (Macrothelypteris torresiana) - non-native species from tropical/subtropical Africa and Asia and listed as invasive in Florida. Similar in appearance, growth and location to the Chain Ferns.
Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis michauxiana) - common and easily found growing on trees branches such as Live Oak. With lack of moisture, the leaves dry out and then resurrect with rain.
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) - a native deciduous perennial; prefers shady moist soil. The name comes from its sensitivity to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it. Sterile fronds are 3-4 feet; fertile half that. Spores form bean-like clusters.
Southern Grape-Fern (Sceptridium biternatum) - a native perennial; usually a single dissected leaf emerges in summer and persists into winter. A spore-producing stem will arise and look like tiny grapes. Gently touching may release a cloud of spores. Common in some places but not so much at the Preserve.
Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) - a native perennial; prefers shady moist soil. This Lady Fern reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf. Listed as Threatened species in Florida.
Southern Shield Fern (Pelazoneuron kunthii) - a native deciduous perennial; prefers shady moist soil. Reproduces by forming spores on the under surface of leaf. Common
Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana) - a native perennial evergreen fern; prefers shady wet; fronds up to 3 feet. Larger fronds are fertile while smaller are sterile.
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) - highly invasive Climbing Fern in a variety of habitats from mesic to xeric (dry). Introduced in the 1930s in Florida as an ornamental. Vines grow extensively and can cover a young tree killing it. Vines are thin but tough and provide an easy support for emergent vines in the spring. Leaflets are either sterile or fertile, the latter are crinkly and dissected with 1,000s of spores on underside that are easily airborne and spread far. Small infestations can be dug out with hairy rhizomes about 2” in the ground.
Japanese False Spleenwort (Deparia petersenii) - non-native and invasive perennial; similar to and grows where Lady Ferns are found.
***** Sources
Wikipedia; Alabama Plant Atlas (A. Diamond); The Ferns of Florida by Gil Nelson; personal observations (S. Copeland)