Plants fern-like, moss-like, rush-like or aquatic in general
character; annual or perennial. Reproduction by spores with sporophyte
generally possessed fibrous roots. Stems, leaves and roots with
vascular tissue.
| 1-Plants not fern-like | ...
2. |
| 1-Plants generally fern-like and often with
compound leafstalks | ... 13. |
2-Stems hollow, round, ridged
and conspicuously jointed; joints covered by toothed sheaths; spores
borne in sporangia on scales of terminal, dry, cone-like spikes. Leaves
united into sheath-like whorls about the stem at the joints. Stems
sandy or minutely roughened to the touch | ...
3. |
2-Stems without
conspicuous joints and otherwise not as described above
| ... 6. |
| 3-Aerial stems evergreen, perennial; spore
bearing and non-spore bearing stems alike in appearance; grooves and
ridges very rough. Found in most soils having ample moisture; stems
1-1/2 - 6 feet tall. COMMON
SCOURING RUSH (Equisetum hyemalea) |
|
| 3-Aerial stems not evergreen |
...
4. |
4-Aerial stems all green and
essentially alike; fertile stems branched with numerous whorls of
branches; grows in very wet soils or in water; 18 - 36 inches tall. SWAMP HORSETAIL (Equisetum
limosum) |
|
4-Aerial stems of two kinds -
spore bearing and non-spore bearing | ...
5. |
| 5-Aerial stems annual; 4-18 inches tall.
Sterile stems green and having whorled branches at the joints. COMMON or FIELD HORSETAIL
(Equisetum arvense) |
|
| 5-Aerial stems annual; 1-1/2 to 9 feet
tall. Sterile stems ivory-grey, green or brownish. GIANT HORSETAIL (Equisetum
telmateia) |
|
6-Stem elongate, creeping
(sometimes underground) or branching. Leaves small, with axillary
sporangia, short, crowded and closely overlapping or scale-like on the
stem | ... 8. |
6-Leaves long and linear;
grass-like or awl shaped and overlapping one another at the base and
forming a rosette in a single basal tuft. Stem short and onion-like.
Two kinds of spores (microspores and megaspores) a conspicuous feature;
both types borne in sporangia that are sessile and somewhat sunken in
the base of the leaf on the inner side. Found in boggy soils or partly
submerged at the edges of ponds or lakes. | ...
7. |
| 7-Plants growing where they are submerged
during only a part of the year. BRAUN's QUILLWORT (Isoetes
braunii). |
|
| 7-Plants growing where they are submerged
during the entire year. BOLANDER's QUILLWORT (Isoetes
bolanderi). |
|
8-Sporangia of two kinds,
some containing many minute spores (microspores) and the others bearing
fewer but larger spores (megaspores). Spore leaves not differing
greatly from the foliage leaves and forming small terminal spikes or
cone-like structures. SELAGINELLA (Selaginella wallacei).
|
|
8-Sporangia containing but
one kind of spores. Sporophylls elongated so that the leaves on that
part of the plant are widely scattered and not overlapping; sporophylls
generally in erect spike or cone-like structures (except L. selago)
| ... 9. |
| 9-No cone-like structures present;
sporangia in the axils of ordinary leaves; creeping stem short or
sometimes nearly absent; erect branches often several in a tuft; leafy
branches densely tufted. FIR
CLUB MOSS (Lycopodium selago). |
|
| 9-Cone-like structures present and
sporangia in axils of modified cone leaves only; creeping stems very
evident. | ... 10. |
10-Leaves bristle tipped,
edges of leaves minutely toothed; cones one to two inches long. CLUB MOSS or GROUND PINE
(Lycopodium clavatum) |
|
10-Leaves not bristle
tipped | ... 11. |
| 11-Prostate stems not over 18 inches long;
erect leafy branches round in cross section; cone bearing branches bear
a single cone only; cone up to one inch long. ALASKAN CLUB MOSS (Lycopodium
sitchense). |
|
| 11-Prostate stems more than 18 inches
long | ... 12. |
12-Cones up to 1-1/2 inches
long; prostrate stems up to 2 yards long; erect leafy branches up to 12
inches long; leaves pointed sharply but without bristle point. STIFF CLUB MOSS (Lycopodium
annotinum). |
|
12-Cones up to 5 inches long;
cone bearing branches obviously different from other branches; prostrate
stem up to 3-1/2 yards long; cone bearing branches bearing several
cones. CLUB MOSS or GROUND CEDAR (Lycopodium
complanatum). |
|
| 13-Spore-bearing part bladeless and not
frond-like, appearing to arise from the leaf stalk of a foliage leaf.
Leaves one-to three-compound, the foliate part de-compound. Sporangia
large and in grape-like bunches, opening by transverse slits to release
the numerous sulphur-yellow spores. Roots fleshy; small to medium sized
plants | ... 14. |
| 13-Plants typically fern like; fronds
simple to de-compound. Spore leaves like or unlike the foliage leaves
and bearing spores in sporangia on the back or margins of the pinnae or
their divisions. Sporangia appear as dots or rows of brownish
sori | ... 16. |
14-Length of stem (peticle)
below junction with leaf not exceeding one inch. SIMPLE GRAPE FERN
(Botrychium simplex). |
|
14-Length of stem (petiole)
below the junction with the leaf more than one inch
| ... 15. |
| 15-Leaf one or two pinnately compound;
leaf segments broad and margins rounded. GRAPE FERN (Botrychium
pinnatum). |
|
| 15-Leaf blade with pointed or lance-like
pinnae. LANCE-LEAVED GRAPE
FERN (Botrychium lanceolatum). |
|
16-Fronds distinctly of two
kinds | ... 17. |
16-Fronds not
distinctly of two kinds; spore bearing fronds the same as non-spore
bearing fronds in appearance | ...
18. |
| 17-Plant (except reproductive fronds)
evergreen; vegetative fronds in a rosette on the ground with
reproductive fonds upright. Vegetative fronds 2-4 inches wide and 12-24
inches long; pinnae sessile with entire margins. Reproductive fronds
16-40 inches long and 1-3 inches wide with pinnae distantly spaced on
the stem and very narrow. Common in moist, shaded woods. DEER FERN (Struthiopteris
spicant). |
|
| 17-Plant not evergreen; 6-12 inches tall.
On or among rocks and generally dry soils. Foliage much divided,
densely tufted and "parsley-like" in general appearance. Spore bearing
fronds taller than non-spore bearing fronds. Sori borne under recurved
margin of fertile pinnae. ROCK
BRAKE or PARSLEY FERN
(Cryptogramma acrostichoides). |
|
18-Spores borne in sori
beneath recurved leaf margins | ...
19. |
18-Spores not borne beneath
recurved leaf margins as in above; sori plainly visible on underside of
pinnae as brownish dots | ... 21. |
| 19-Leaf margins recurved along entire
length | ... 20. |
| 19-Leaf margin recurved only at intervals
and where sori are found; plant rather delicate and feathery in
appearance with fronds tufted and dichotomously branched. Stems
slender, dark brown and shiny in appearance as if varnished. Pinnae
attached to stem by slender petiole; palmately veined. In ravines and
rocks. MAIDENHAIR FERN
(Adiantum pedatum var., aleuticum). |
|
20-Plant stiff and coarse in
appearance; not tufted. Fronds harsh and brittle to the touch, usually
3 compound and with silky grey pubescence or underside. Fronds 3-6 feet
tall, greenish and stout. Pinnules sessile or occasionally short
stalked and with entire margins. In poorer soils, especially on burned
areas. BRAKE or BRACKEN (Pteridium aquilinum,
var. languginosum). |
|
20-Plant short, densely
tufted. Fronds 4-14 inches long, pinnately two and, occasionally, three
compound. Underside of pinnae brown and fuzzy. In dry and rocky
situations. LACE FERN
(Choilanthes gracillima). |
|
| 21-Plant distinctly tufted | ...
22. |
| 21-Plant not tufted or not distinctly
so | ... 31. |
22-Pinnae 1-2 compound and
sharply serrate with numerous pointed saw-edge teeth; pinnae unequal at
base with upper side larger; pinnae attached to stem by slender petiole.
Fronds evergreen and of general leathery texture; leaf stalks with brown
scales at base | ... 23. |
22-Pinnae not sharply serrate
with pointed and conspicuously barbed teeth or, if serrate, the teeth
being of a more ragged appearance and not of uniform saw-edge character
| ... 24. |
| 23-None of pinnae compounded a second
time | ... 25. |
| 23-Basal pinnae compounded a second time;
fronds 16-40 inches long, lanceolate elliptic in outline, being widest
between the base and middle of the frond. Pinnules sessile and margined
with numerous sharp, bristle-tipped teeth. BRISTLE FERN or VANCOUVER FERN (Polystichum
andersoni). |
|
24-Fronds 6-24 inches long
and 1-3 inches wide at the widest part (just above middle) and tapering
toward either end. Pinnae 1/4-1/2 inch wide and 3/4-1 inch long,
holly-like in appearance and texture with margins of prickly teeth;
larger teeth interspersed with smaller serrations. Evergreen. HOLLY FERN (Polystichum
lonchitis). |
|
24-Fronds 12-60 inches long,
linear-lanceolate in outline and leathery in texture; widest at base to
middle, being 2-10 inches wide at widest point. Pinnae long and linear,
1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long being about average. Teeth recurved.
Leaf stalk scaly with numerous brown linear scales. Common in deep
moist woods. Evergreen. SWORD
FERN (Polystichum munitum). |
|
| 25-Fronds very narrow and linear in
outline, 1/3 to 1 inch wide and 2-10 inches long; densely tufted and
generally in bunches nearly as wide as tall; fronds are compound. Pinnae
bright green, round-oblong or oval with crenulate (wavy) margins; square
at base and attached to the stem by a slender petiole. Leafstalks
persistent and conspicuous after the pinnae (most of which remain for
about a year) drop off. Not common. Found generally among rocks
or on cliffs on moist situations; usually in upper Hudsonian or lower
Arctic-alpine zones. SPLEENWORT (Asplenium
viride). |
|
| 25-Not as described above. Fronds more
than once compound and not linear in outline | ...
26. |
26-Plant small to medium in
size; fronds up to 24 inches long but usually 5-10 inches long; tufted
but loosely so and spreading; 1-2 compound. Leafstalk brown or straw
colored, very slender and fragile; pinnules thin and delicate with veins
of pinnules extending to the edge of marginal teeth. Quite common from
deep woods to timberline. BRITTLE FERN (Cysbottomteris fragilis).
|
|
26-Plants generally larger
than the above and ranging from medium to large size; stems of fronds
not delicate | ... 27. |
| 27-Plant of the Hudsonian zone; among
rocks and talus. Fronds deep green, densely bunched and erect or nearly
so, pointing stiffly upward from curved leaf stalks. Fronds 8-28 inches
long, narrow to oblong-lanceolate in general outline; 1-1/2 - 5 inches
wide; pinnately 2-3 compound. Leafstalk short and curving beneath the
rocks, rather stout, brown, and with brown scales at the base. ALPINE LADY FERN (Athyrium
alpestre var. americanum). |
|
| 27-Plants of the deep moist woods growing
in accumulated duff of the moist forest floor or in rich moist soils
along banks of streams or in boggy places | ...
28. |
28-Fronds triangular in
outline, widest at base, 2-3 compound, 12-40 inches long and 4-6 inches
wide at widest point. Fronds tufted and wide-spreading. Pinnules
margined with rounded, barbed teeth. One of the most common ferns in
moist shaded woods. WOOD
FERN (Dryopteris spinulosa var. dilatata).
|
|
28-Fronds not
triangular in outline; either widest at or near the middle
| ... 29. |
| 29-Fronds 2-3 compound. Plant large,
tufted, wide spreading, and with generally erect fronds 1-4 feet long.
Margin of pinnules with several small, irregular teeth; pinnules
sessile. Leaf stalks short and straw colored at base. Very common in
deep moist woods. LADY or
SWAMP FERN (Athyrium
filix-femina). |
|
| 29-Fronds once compound | ...
30. |
30-Fronds 12-56 inches long
with leafstalk 2-12 inches long. Largest pinnae short stalked and
segments of lobes serrate with curved, oblique teeth. Width of fronds,
at widest part, 4-12 inches. Fairly common in deep woods. MALE FERN (Dryopteris
filix-mas). |
|
30-Fronds 20-36 inches long,
elliptic-lanceolate in outline. Leafstalks about 4-12 inches long and
about 1/4 as long as the blade, straw-colored and scaly at base. Pinnae
sessile and margins entire or crenate (wavy). SIERRA WATER FERN
(Dryopteris oregana). |
|
| 31-Plant with three triangular-shaped
pinnae held aloft in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, plane by
slender, delicate stalks 6-10 inches tall. Fronds arise from creeping
rootstalks. Fronds of delicate appearance. Margin of lobes crenate
(wavy). Common on rich humus in deep, moist woods. OAK FERN (Dryopteris
linnaena). |
|
| 31-Plant not as describe above; commonly
growing on rocks, tree trunks and logs, generally in moist situations.
Not delicate in appearance. Fronds arising singly from a rhizome; once
compound and with pinnae sessile | ... 32. |
32-Fronds 6-18 inches long
with 10-35 pairs of lanceolate, acute or attentuate and usually
serrulate lobes. LICORICE
FERN (Polypodium vulgare).
|
|
32-Fronds 2-8 inches long
with 7-15 pairs of oblong, obtuse, crenate (wavy) or entire lobes. LICORICE FERN (Polypodium
vulgare, var. columbianum). |
|
