U.S. Department of Agriculture May 1979

Forest Seroice General Technical Report S E- 15

FERNS of the Blue Ridge

by Arnold and Connie KrochmaI
Southeastern Forest Experiment Station

Asheuille, North Carolina
FERNS OF THE BLUE RIDGE

by

Arnold and Connie Krochmal

The forests and open fields of the Blue Ridge provide ideal growing

conditions for a number of ferns. Since some of these are evergreen, ferns

can be seen in the area during every month of the year.

Ferns are old members of the plant kingdom, and fossil ancestors are

common in slate, shale, and coal. All ferns belong to the Pteridophytes, a

group that also includes mosses, horsetails, and quillworts. These plants do

not produce flowers or seeds; they reproduce by means of spores.

Fern spores are produced in structures called sporangia, which are

borne in small clusters on the leaves or-fronds. A cluster of sporangia is

called a sorus (plural sari). Sori appear as brown spots along the veins, at

the ends of veins, and at the margins of fertile fronds, or sporophyls. The

details of the structure of these bodies can be seen with a simple hand lens.

Some ferns have two types of fronds (fertile and sterile) that often differ

widely in appearance. The arrangement, location, and number of sori are

often used to identify species of ferns.

When the sporangia reach maturity, they dry and eventually split open

with enough force to release reproductive spores. These spores may be

carried long distances by wind currents. If the place where it lands is

suitable, the spore germinates and a new cycle of fern development begins,

eventually resulting in a new fern plant. Fern sporangia may produce from

32 to over 500 spores each.

When fern fronds begin to grow in early spring, some of them have a

rolled-up appearance. The structure as it then appears is known as a

fiddle-head because of a resemblance to the head of a violin or fiddle.

These structures are considered delicacies; they are cooked and

served as a vegetable, and sometimes are canned commercially.

Fern fronds are borne on stalks or petioles called stipes. The central

shaft of the frond is called the ruchis. The fronds bear leaflets, calledpinnae

(singularpinna), at right angles to the stipe or rachis. When the pinna is the

smallest division, a frond is described as pinnately compound. In some

ferns there is a further breakdown of the pinnae into units called pinnufes.

Then the structure is described as a double compound frond.

The three most common fern families in the Blue Ridge are the Polypodiaceae known as true or common ferns, the Osmundaceae or royal

ferns, and the Ophioglossaceae or adders-tongue ferns.
The flowering fern members have wings at the bases of the stipes, and

produce clusters of fronds from a husky rhizome. The fertile fronds are

usually smaller than the sterile fronds, and produce clusters of sporangia

that seemingly resemble clusters of tiny flowers. Hence, the common

family name which is descriptive if inaccurate. Flowering ferns are usually

large plants.

Fronds on members of the true fern family vary greatly in shape and

size, but most are smaller than on flowering ferns. They always bear their

sori on the underside of fertile fronds. In the spring they form typical

fiddle-heads as they emerge from the ground.

The adders-tongue ferns are small and have one to three muchcompounded fronds. The sporangia are produced on a long-stalked part of

the fertile frond. Sterile fronds are triangular.

In the past, some ferns were used to treat diseases. As&enium, the

spleenwort, was used for worms in humans. Many Polypodiaceae or true

ferns contain a thick mucilage which was used for a range of diseases. The

rhizome has been eaten, and in Hawaii the fronds of one species are used to

perfume coconut oil.

Indians used decoctions of spleenwort roots as an eyewash, for chest

pains, and to induce milk flow in nursing mothers. The maidenhair fern root

was used against diarrhea and for pediatric problems. Polypodium plants

were used to treat dizziness and headache and something similar to diphtheria in children. A decoction of the aboveground parts was used for

venereal disease. Various species of Dryopteris were believed to combat

shellfish poisoning and stomach aches.

Caution: Mention of former medicinal uses does not imply that the treatments are effective. Under no circumstances should these plants

be used for self-medication,

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REPRODUCTION OF FERNS

Upper:

Middle :

Lower :

Sori borne on the end of a vein on a

frond, and covered by the turned-over

edge of the leaf.

Sori on a frond.

A mature sorus splitting open and

ejecting spores.

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POLYPODIACEAE Fern Family

Maidenhair fem. Adiantum pedatum L.

The fronds are forked and spreading, growing 6 to 24 inches in height.

The stipe of the petiole has a purple tinge and is markedly shiny. This

species grows in rich, calcareous, shaded, humid areas.

Ebony spleenwort. Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Oakes

This evergreen fern has fertile fronds, which grow to 15 inches in

height, and are slightly tufted. Stipes are purple or brown, and shiny.

Sterile fronds are shorter; sori are very numerous. This fern prefers

shaded, moist woody areas.

Southern lady fem. Athyrium asplenioides (Michx.) A. A. Eaton

The yellow-green fronds are 12 to 36 inches tall, with the sterile fronds

shorter and broader than the fertile fronds. After June or July, the plants

may have a brown-rust color. This species may occur under conditions

ranging from dense woods to half-shaded fields.

Hay-scented fem. Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) Moore

The fronds when crushed produce a sweet, haylike odor. The fronds,

delicate and slightly downy on the underside, range in size from 12 to 36

inches. Unlike the other ferns in the area, this one prefers open sunny

areas.

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FERN FAMILY

Southern Lady fern

Spleenwor t

I” -vMaidenhair fern

Hay-Scented fern
Mountain wood fern. Dryopteris campyloptera Clarkson

This fern is doubly pinnate, with triangular pinnae below. The fronds

may grow to 2 feet in length and vary from evergreen to partially evergreen.

It is found in Julian Price Park in North Carolina.

Broad beech fem. D. hexagonoptera (Michx.) Christens.

The fronds are 12 to 15 inches long, triangular in shape, and usually

broader than long. The lower frond surface is downy. Basal segments of

pinnae form a wing along the rachis. It prefers shaded, moist woods but

grows in a range of situations.

Marginal shield fem. D. marginalis (L.) Gray

An evergreen, or almost evergreen, with dark-green leathery fronds,

5 to 8 inches across, up to 18 inches in height. The sori are borne along the

margins. Fronds occur in dense clusters. This species is found on rocky

wooded slopes, usually in full shade.

New York fem. D. noveoboraciensis (L.) Gray

The fruiting bodies are found near the frond margins. The fronds vary

from 12 to 24 inches in length, and taper markedly at the basal and terminal

ends. The lowest pinnae often are shorter than the middle ones. This

species is found most often in moist forest areas.

Spinulose (spiny) shield fem. D. spinulosa (0. F. Muell.) Watt

The fronds often seem to be growing in a row, are about 18 inches long

or 6 inches wide, and are almost evergreen. They often are found growing

near rotting stumps of trees. The species prefers damp places such as

swamps and bogs.

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FERN FAMILY

Marginal Shield

fern

New York fern

Broad Beech fern

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Spiny Shield

fern

Wood fern
Sensitive fem. Onoclea sensibilis L.

This fern is usually partially evergreen. The erect fertile fronds, 2%

feet tall, usually growing in the middle of the plant, survive all winter, and

the sterile, triangular fronds die in the fall. The fertile fronds have a

beadlike appearance as the pinnules roll up, covering the sori. The

pinnules of sterile fronds are opposite, and the rachis is winged. A folk tale

tells that when the fern is picked, the fronds close. This species prefers high

moisture and at least partial shade.

Resurrection fem. Polypodium polypodioides (L.) Watt

Fronds are yellowish green with a leathery texture. They are about 6

inches tall and 1 to 2 inches wide. The lower surface may appear to be gray.

During prolonged dry periods, the fronds may roll up or even die back, but

they quickly revive when rain falls. This fern is common on rocks, on the

upper sides of limbs, and on trunks of trees.

Common polypody. P. virginianum L.

Fronds are evergreen, erect, up to 12 inches in height and 2 inches

wide. Shading is quite variable. The sori are produced between the frond

border and the midrib. This stipe is glabrous. This fern grows on rocks and

logs.
Sensitive fern

FERN FAMILY

Common polypody

Resurrection fern

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Christmas fern. Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott

This fern is found in a range of forms. The brown fruiting bodies on the

underside of the fronds are arranged in several patterns, but fertile pinnae

are always at the tip of the frond. The fronds vary in size from 6 to 20

inches. The upper or spore-bearing pinnae are smoother than the lower or

sterile fronds. The species prefers shaded, moist areas.

Bracken. Pteridium aquilinium (L.) Kuhn

One of the largest ferns, this species may have fronds ranging up to 6

feet tall. It is not easily confused with others in the Blue Ridge. The fronds

are somewhat lance shaped. Sori occur in a continuous band around the

outer margin of the pinnae. This fern grows in fields and thick woods.

Chain fem. Woodwardia uerolutu (L.) Moore

The sterile fronds vary from 8 inches to 2 feet in height, and have green

petioles. and look much like sensitive ferns. Pinnae in this species, however, are alternate and have serrated margins. The fertile fronds are taller

and have dark-colored petioles. The sori are produced on each side of the

midvein of the fertile fronds, and resemble two rows of chain links. Midveins of sterile fronds also have two rows of chain links. The species

prefers filtered, partial light and damp areas.

I O
FERN FAMILY

Bracken

fern

Chain fern
OSMUNDACEAE Osmunda Family

Three species in this family are found in the Blue Ridge. All three

prefer damp woods. All have stipes winged at the base. All are large and

coarse with erect or somewhat spreading fronds. The species differ primarily in the appearance of sot-i and spores.

Cinnamon fem. 0. cinnamonea L.

The name of this fern comes from the brown cinnamon appearance of

the young fronds and stalks. The sterile fronds range from 2 to 5 feet in

height and are much taller than the fertile fronds, which are fuzzy at first,

and soon dry. The sot-i are a bright cinnamon brown. Plants are often blue

green. This species prefers wet areas.

Royal fem. 0. regalis L.

The sot-i are borne at the top of a fertile frond. The long-stalked fronds

range from I to 5 feet long, but sometimes are over 5 feet. The arrangements of pinnae resemble locust leaves, and another common name is

locust fem. The fertile fronds have few pinnae, widely separated and tipped

by the sporangia. The sterile fronds have more pinnae. The spores are light

brown to tan. In early spring the fronds are pink hued. This fern prefers wet

areas such as swamps, marshes, and damp woods.

Interrupted fem. 0. claytoniana L.

This fern differs from the other two in that it bears sporangia in the

middle or near the base of a fertile frond. Fertile fronds have several pairs

of small blackish pinnae, which give the plant a unique appearance. The

upright fronds,which taper at the base and at the apex, grow to 5 feet in

height. This fern prefers dry, open glades.

1 2
OSMUNDA FAMILY

Cinnamon fern

InterwIted fern

Royal fern

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OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Adders-tongue Ferns

Rattlesnake fem. Bottychium virginianum (L.) SW.

This fern seldom exceeds 2 feet in height. It usually produces a single

evergreen frond, although it may have two or three. The fertile portion is

produced on a long stem on which the tightly clustered pinnae slightly

resemble a snake rattle. The fern was once believed to be a sure indicator of

the presence of ginseng. It grows in heavy woods, in well-drained soils.

SOURCES OF ILLUSTRATIONS

We thank Seneca Books, Inc., publisher of “Flora of West Virginia,”

and the authors of that book, P. D. Strausbaugh and Earl L. Core, for use of

their illustrations of ebony spleenwort, southern lady fern, rattlesnake

fern, hay-scented fern, mountain wood fern, marginal shield fern, spiny

shield fern, sensitive fern, interrupted fern, broad beech fern, resurrection

fern, common polypody, and chain fem.

We also thank the New York Botanical Garden Library for its illustration of Dtyopteris noveboracensis.
ADDERS-TONGUE FAMILY

Rattlesnake fern

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QU.8. 00vFstmEm PRISTTNG OFFTCEr 1980 - 640-190/4532