Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Ferns of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • ON USING THIS BOOKLET The numbers on the paragraphs of text correspond with the numbers on the drawings. Several drawings are offered for most of the species. One is the outline of a typical leaf, to show the general form, and is to no particular scale. Tracings of herbrarium specimens, to show actual size, are indicated by the letter T; it is to be understood that these show the underside of the leaf, as it is there that the reproductive structures are generally to be found. Enlarged sketches, to show the appearance of the reproductive structures under magnification, are marked with the letter M. On the same line as the common and scientific names there will be found a number, the length of*a healthy and well developed leaf. This is to be regarded as a maximum, and most specimens of any given fern will probably be about half this length. The letter E denotes evergreen, as D does for deciduous. leaflet sub-leaflet ATYPICAL FERNS (ferns that don't look like ferns) 1 FILMY FERN under 1 inch Trichomanes petersii is the smallest member of the phylum occurring in the Park, and one of the rarest. It grows on a few limestone ledges beside waterfalls, where the air is saturated with moisture. It is also called bristle fern, from the fiber on the sorus. 2 ADDER'S-TONGUE FERN 5" Ophioglossum vulgatum may have one or two simple, undivided leaves, rarely three. The leaf-blades are thin, grass-green, and the veins form a network in the blade. This fern is rare in our area, as it requires a limestone soil and a dry exposure. 3 CLIMBING FERN 48" Lygodium palmatum is our only native vine-like fern. It prefers an acid soil, and grows best along the edges of peat bogs. The smaller leaves near the tip of the vine bear the spores. This fern is also called Hartford fern. 4 WALKING FERN 4" - 10" Asplenium rhizophyllum is not uncommon, but is often overlooked. It clings to shaded ledges of sandstone or limestone. Where the tip of the leaf touches the soil, new roots, and a new plant, may grow.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).