Biology, 6e

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LEC 08
Fern Terms Ohio Natives
FIELD BOTANY Lecture 08 Dr. Donald P. Althoff
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Common ladyfern
Christmas fern
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Ferns some quick review facts

• About _________ species worldwide
• They would generally be considered
  ________________
• They represent the first major _____________
  _______________.compare this to the mosses

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LEAF, BLADE or
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(root, trunk, stock)

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Basic Morphology - Terms
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• LEAF BLADE is the
  flat, green, expanded part leaves/fronds vary in
  size and shape according to species So
  me species have different sizes and shapes for
  fertile and sterile leaves ex.
  sensitive fern ostrich fern Contains
  rachis leaflets (pinnae)

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Basic Morphology - Terms
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• STALK STIPE supports the leaf below axis
  (i.e., first set of leaves/fronds Usu
  ally flat or concave in front Usually
  rounded in the back Young stems
  typically covered with hairs or scales

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Basic Morphology - Terms
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• ROOTS usual forms are thin, wiry, black,
  and forking. Shallow. Grow from sides and
  undersides of rhizome
• RHIZOME the part of a fern from which the
  fronds (leaves) and roots grow supports
  roots below and stalk above

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Leaflet or Pinna (pinnae plural)
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Rachis axis midrib
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Leaflet Terminology
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Teeth
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Leaflet / Pinna breakdown
1-leaflet highlighted
1-pinnule/subleaf highlighted
1-lobe highlighted
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Leaflet / Pinna breakdown
cut (once divided)
cut (twice divided)
cut (thrice divided)
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Leaf base shapes
to base
at base
at base
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Ohio Fern Species (partial listing)

• evergreen wood fern
• marginal shield fern
• ostrich fern
• sensitive fern
• royal fern
• cinnamon fern
• Christmas fern

• maidenhair fern
• lady fern
• bulbet bladder fern
• hay-scented fern
• crested shield fern
• giant wood fern

Acknowledgement most fern pictures are by
Walter Mura, Ontario
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Maidenhair fernAdiantum pedatum
Thrice-divided
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Lady fern Athyrium filix-femina
Thrice-divided
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Bulbet bladder fern Cystopteris bulbifera
Thrice-divided
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Hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Thrice-divided
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Crested shield fern Dryopteris cristata
Twice-divided
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Giant Wood Fern(goldies wood fern) Dryopteris
goldiana
Twice-divided
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Intermediate woodfern(Evergreen wood
fern)Dryopteris intermedia
Thrice-divided
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Marginal shield fern(marginal woodfern)Dryopteri
s marginalis
Twice-divided
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Sori

• A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of
  a fern frond

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Sporangia sporophyll

• A cluster of sporangia borne on an erect
  stalk.cut-leaved grapefern

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Ostrich fernMatteuccia struthiopteris
Twice-divided
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Sensitive fernOnoclea sensibilis
Once-divided
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Royal FernOsmunda regalis
Twice-divided
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Cinnamon fernOsmunda cinnamomea
Twice-divided whitish velvet coating on lower
stems and fiddleheads
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Christmas fernPolystichum acrostichoides
Once-divided