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One of the hikes during the conference was on the NCT in the Chequamgon (say shuh-WAH-muh-gon) National Forest at the Brunschweiller River. One of the leaders was the botany guy from the NFS. He said that there was a threatened fern along the way if you knew where to look. And, of course, he did. So I asked to see it! Here you go.
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This is the Braun's Holly Fern, Polystichum braunii. I'd never seen it before. But if you notice the pinnae, they are rather distinctively shaped. I think I will recognize this if I ever see it again.
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The stipe (lower stalk) is hairy and thick.
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I like how the fiddleheads uncurl... still new ones even though some fronds are fully unfurled.
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10 comments:
It's a very pretty fern. I've always liked the looks of them, no matter what type they are
I think I have seen these here in the U.P. !
I am a fan of ferns.This one is very pretty. Hope somehow it becomes plentiful once again.
That first picture is wonderful. I'm still trying to learn to identify ferns better. I found some plants that appear to be ferns, but I'm not sure. One of these times I think identifying plants will begin to come together in my head.
i am not good in identifying ferns, your first picture is lovely.
I can't tell one from the other but this looks like the ferns that are growing all over my backyard.
Ann- Yup, I know that telling one fern from another is not high on the to do list of very many people. But, I agree, they are so pretty!
Hi to the other Joan! Yup... it's found throughout the UP. See http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/tes/ca-overview/docs/plant_Polystichum_braunii-Brauns_Holly_Fern.pdf , page 9. I've just never seen it that I know of.
Jean- I think it's status is due to the fact that its circumboreal.
Ratty- I'd been there before, of course, since it's along the NCT. But I think I'm going to find that I really like going back to many of these places again.
betchai- hey, me neither! I'm trying to learn them.
Jen- where do you live? It would have to be in the northeast high north US states or the Pacific Coast of Canada or Alaska.
I love ferns. Living in Florida, nearly forty years ago, in the first home I ever owned, a brand new place, we had a wonderful entrance, where I planted ten different varieties of ferns.
Carmen- that is great! 10 kinds of ferns in one location is amazing, even in a garden.
They grew so well in that entrance to the Florida house - shady, on each side of the walkway, quite humid, of course, and I had both hanging baskets of several varieties and other ferns planted in the ground. Everything grew like crazy there. Things that are houseplants here grew into trees there!
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