Ferns
What are they?
Ferns are primitive plants, reproducing by means of spores, which are produced in great quantity, either from special locations on the underside of the leaves - called sori - or from fertile fronds, which differ in appearance to the regular, infertile leaves. Ferns are abundant throughout the world in usually humid climates. Thus they tend to be most common in rainforest zones (both tropical and temperate). They may be terrestrial (growing from the ground) or growing as epiphytes on the branches of forest trees. In the Cape May area, all species are terrestrial - some species may occasionally also be found growing in humus that has gathered on tree branches.
Where are they found?
These are generally plants of woodland or shady swamplands and marsh edge.
Identification
With no flowers to help us, identification is largely based on leaf detail. It is helpful to decide first whether the species forms a single rosette or clump of leaves, or whether it is present as a spreading mat of leaves. Secondly, whether the fern produces its spores from sori on the backs of the regular leaves (look for brownish lumps producing 'dust') or whether it produces them from fertile fronds, which usually look very different to the infertile leaves. Three words it is useful to know are Pinna (plural pinnae), Pinnule and Pinnulet. Fern leaves are often divided and divided again, up to three times. Each division has a name: the central vein or Rachis has pinnae coming off it. Each pinna may be further divided into pinnules and each pinnule may be divided into pinnulets.
Southern Adder's-tongue Ophioglossum pycnostichum
Up to one foot high, but usually less than six inches. The status of this species in Cape May remains unclear. It is currently known from a single wet woodland location which probably represents the only known site for it in the county. It should be looked for in wet sphagnum woods, but also in areas where lime mortar or limestone bricks from old buildings are found, as this creates more suitable growing conditions for the species. Mature spores May to July. A most peculiar-looking fern, which could easily be mistaken for a member of the arum family, or just a small seedling of something not yet big enough to identify! The persistent sheath at the base of the leaf is said to be a good way to tell this species from the very similar Northern Adder's-tongue Fern, though the two may simply be forms of a single species.
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elongated fertile leaf |
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Virginia Grape-fern Botrypus virginianus
Up to one foot high, but usually less. A rare plant of old woodland with undisturbed, loamy soils. Mature spores May to July. Note that fertile spike arises from base of sterile leaf blade, so only a single stem arises from the soil.
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Cut-leaved Grape-fern Sceptridium dissectum
Up to one foot high, but usually less. Found in old woodland with undisturbed, loamy soils. Mature spores August to November. The sterile leaves are very variable in how deeply cut the edges are. Fertile leaf arises from ground, not from base of sterile leaf blade, so two stems arise from the ground.
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American Royal Fern Osmunda spectabilis
Leaves to 6' high, though often less. Widespread in acid soils in very wet woods and in bogs. Often associated with White Cedar bogs. Mature spores May to June. Leaves are very open with simple leaflets, forming a ladder-like appearance. A tall-growing species, the spores are born in fertile clusters at the tips of the leaves.
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Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomea
Leaves to 3' high. A widespread fern of woodland and shady places, usually in damp or wet soil. Mature spores April to June. An easily recognized species due to its upright growth with fairly tall leaves and individual plants often creating quite large colonies. Fertile leaves are very distinctive, being tall and narrow and bright cinnamon-colored.
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Eastern Hay-scented Fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Leaves to about 1' 6" high. An uncommon, mat-forming species, found on acid soil in lightly wooded areas. Mature spores June to August. leaves are covered in glandular hairs which can give young leaves a rather clammy feel.
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Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
Leaves to 3' high. Common in all kinds of shady or semi-shady land, especially on land that has previously been disturbed. Mature spores June to September. A spreading species, sending up single leaves from creeping stems below ground level and often covering large areas of ground. Leaves are unusual in our area in that they break into three sections from a common stem.
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Ebony Spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Leaves to 1' high or a little more. Common in wooded areas, especially if rocky or gravelly and well-drained. Mature spores June to October. The relatively small, ladder-like leaves with alternate, not opposite, leaflets are easily recognized. Leaflets usually have a small lobe at the base on one side like the leaflets of Christmas Fern, but note that Ebony Spleenwort has a blackish, not green, mid-stem.
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New York Fern Thelypteris noveboracensis
Leaves to 2' 6" high. Scattered in small colonies in damp woodland, typically in less wet places than the similar-looking Marsh Fern. Mature spores June to October. Forms often large, open mats of leaves throughout the summer months. Leaves differ from Marsh Fern in the lower side sections, which become gradually smaller and give the leaf a tapered outline at the base.
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at base |
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Marsh Fern Thelypteris palustris
Leaves to 1' 6" high. A widespread and common species, found in a variety of usually species-rich wetlands and the Thelypteris species most likely to be found growing in open bogs rather than woodland. Will grow in seasonally flooded areas so sometimes found in fairly dry areas during the summer. Mature spores June to October. Forms often large, solid mats of usually upright, yellow-green leaves throughout the summer months.
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Bog Fern Thelypteris simulata
(Massachusetts Fern) Leaves to 1' 6" high. An uncommon species, but occurs in small colonies in wet woodland locations. Mature spores July to September. Differs from the more common Marsh Fern in having a broader outline to the leaf shape and in having the lower pair of pinnae angled upward from the main plane of the leaf (beware of young Cinnamon Fern leaves which can look very similar but grow in small clusters, not singly).
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Virginia Chain Fern Woodwardia virginica
Leaves to 2' high, sometimes more. A widespread and common species of wet woodland and marshy, usually shady ground. Mature spores July to September. Often forms quite extensive stands of leaves, the leaves being rather stiff and leathery and standing very upright. Spore-bearing sori elongated, like chains of hairy caterpillars.
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Netted Chain Fern Woodwardia areolata
Leaves to 2' high, though often less. A widespread and common species of wet woodland. Mature spores July to October. Spores carried on fertile leaves, though plants often found with only barren leaves. Easily confused with Sensitive Fern, but usually more glossy green with leaves almost translucent. Leaflets often wavy-edged but not toothed. Young leaves have a bronzed coloration.
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Northern Lady Fern Athyrium angustum
Leaves to 3' high, though often much less. Scattered in a few places in damp, loamy woodland, mostly in the lower half of the county. Mature spores June to September. Small plants resemble the Thelypteris ferns but leaves occur in small rosettes, not singly. Spore-bearing sori on the underside of the leaves are narrow and curved, like tiny worms. The form rubellum has reddish central stems to the leaves.
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Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis
Common in an array of wet habitats in lightly shaded areas, sometimes in more open swamps. Mature spores July to October. Similar to Netted Chain Fern, but usually less shiny and with toothed edges to the leaflets. Young leaves usually lack the bronzed coloration of Netted Chain Fern. Spores carried on fertile leaves which often last through the winter after the barren leaves have died down.
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Narrow Buckler-fern Dryopteris carthusiana
Rare in Cape May County with just a few scattered records from damp, loamy woods. Mature spores May to August. Despite the English name, this species differs from related species in having leaves that don't narrow down toward the base. Typically for Dryopteris species, the leaf mid-rib (rachis) is grooved on top and has brownish, papery scales at the base.
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Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
Very rare in Cape May County with just a few records from the Pond Creek area. Since this is often an abundant species of rocky slopes elsewhere, it seems likely that Cape May plants were introduced, perhaps with imported soil, rock or waste products. Mature spores May to October. In the lower part of the leaf, each pinna has a pointed lobe at the base, angled towards the tip. Fertile leaves narrow abruptly toward tip - this, plus the green central rachis of the leaf identifies this species from Ebony Spleenwort.
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Rock Polypody Polypodium virginianum
Very rare in Cape May County with just a single record from South Dennisville, but no recent reports. This species is very common in North Jersey, where it typically grows in rocky areas. Soils in most of South Jersey are unsuitable for this species and it seems unlikely that it is native in our region. However, it is possible that plants may occasionally be found that have originated from gardens.
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