Angiopteris sensibilis
Calypterium sensibile
Onodea augescens
Onodea interrupta
Onodea obtusilobata
Ragiopteris obtusilobata
Ragiopteris onocleoides
Riedlea sensibilis
Onoclea sensibilis L. Sensitive fern, bead fern, meadow brake
Sensitive fern is common in temperate regions of Asia and North America. Its common and species names reflects the fact that its fronds give out at the first sign of frost (though its roots remain intact for next spring). Onoclea, from Greek meaning “closed vessel,” refers to the closely rolled fertile fronds. This genus has only a single species. Identification: This robust fern favors wet areas, where its roots put up irregular rows of erect or tilted fronds. Young stems are red, and the emerging “fiddleheads” are pale red. Sterile fronds are 8-40" (20-101 cm) long, with 8-12 pairs of opposing light green pinnae (leaflets). Fertile fronds are 10-20" (25-50 cm) long, composed of pinnae so tightly rolled up as to resemble beads—the sori are inside the rolled leaves. The “beads” are ¹/₁₆-⅛" (2-4 mm) around. In winter, the sterile fronds die back and disappear, but the fertile fronds, now dark brown and hard, remain as an unmistakable sign of this species. Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site References:
4/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 8/6/2014 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire 4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts 6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts 4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire 6/8/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts 5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine Angiopteris sensibilis Calypterium sensibile Onodea augescens Onodea interrupta Onodea obtusilobata Ragiopteris obtusilobata Ragiopteris onocleoides Riedlea sensibilis
Onoclea sensibilis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 13 Oct 2021. © FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved. |
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts 5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 4/21/2021 · Center Pond Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine 4/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 4/28/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire 8/6/2014 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire 5/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts 4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver, Hollis, Massachusetts 5/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts 8/16/2014 · White Mountains, New Hampshire 8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire Range: Zones 4-8:
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