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Christmas Fern
The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. ... more information
Leatherwood Fern The Leatherwood Fern or Marginal Shield Fern is an evergreen fern which typically forms a non-spreading, vase-shaped clump to 1. Sori are located at the edges or margins of the pinnule undersides, hence the common name. The evergreen fronds are very attractive and provide good interest to the winter landscape. |
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