Monday, September 13, 2010

Evergreen Woodfern-Bog Ecosystem


Evergreen Woodfern

Order:  Polypodiales

Family:  Dryopteridaceae

Genus:  Dryopteris

Species:  D. intermedia

General Characteristics:

The leaves are monomorphic and green through winter, 32--90 × 10--20 cm. The petiole is 1/3 length of leaf, scaly at least at base; scales scattered, tan. The blade is green, ovate, 3-pinnate-pinnatifid, herbaceous, and glandular. The pinnae are in the plane of blade.  The basal pinnules are longer than adjacent pinnules. The pinnule margins are serrate, and the teeth spiny. Sori are midway between midvein and margin of segments. Indusia have minute glandular hairs.

Special Adaptations:

The extreme variability of size and colour may make it confusing to identify. In addition, it sometimes grows mixed with D. carthusiana in some areas.

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