![]() ![]() As a new frond emerges from the crown of the plant, it is tightly coiled into what is known as a crozier (similar in appearance to a shepherd’s crook) or fiddlehead (similar in appearance to the head of the musical instrument). Reduced to very basic terms, a blade is either simple (undivided) or compound (divided into leaflets called pinnae). Its complete “leaf” is made up of two parts, a stipe and a more or less triangular blade (leafy part). The leafy structure of a fern is called a frond. The upper part of the stem or mid-rib (main axis), bearing the leafy structure, is called a rachis.įronds. The stipe, which bears scales, hairs or glands, acts as a support structure and connects the root to the leafy part of the plant. ![]() The portion of the stem just above ground and below the leafy structure is called a stipe (stalk). A fern stem arises from the growing tip of an underground rhizome. Knowing whether a fern is a creeper or a clumper is an important fact to take account when incorporating these plants into your landscape. Clumping rhizomes are slow growing and form a tight clump. Creeping rhizomes grow from several inches to one foot per year and form a large colony. The rhizome may be one of two types, creeping or clumping. The roots of ferns are produced by underground structures called rhizomes. However, to understand the unique nature of ferns, it’s useful to consider a few basics regarding their botanical structure. The nature and botanical structure of ferns is actually much more complicated than can be expressed within the scope of this article. Despite their benign neglect, they are quite healthy and happy as well as extraordinarily beautiful in their woodland setting.įerns have no flowers, but the beauty, variety, and graceful presence they lend to the garden make up for any lack of floral display. For the past 23 years, the current property owner has left the ferns alone to grow as they please. ![]() The accompanying photo is of a fern garden that has existed since the 1930s and possibly longer. Most fern species prefer slightly acid, woodsy soil, with regular moisture. They grow in shady environments that would discourage fussier plants. Once established, ferns are undemanding and require very little care. Their lush foliage, diverse textures, and complex forms make them an excellent choice for a wide variety of landscapes. Ferns do not bloom, yet they are the most ornamental of plants. Along with club mosses, spikemosses, horsetails, and quillworts, ferns belong to the Pteridophyte family, which accounts for some of the most diverse plants on earth. Existing long before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, fossil evidence indicates they have been around at least 300 million years. Ferns are some of the oldest members of the plant kingdom. ![]()
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