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Ferns of the Bruce TrailIntroduction

Many of us hikers are familiar with a pamphlet available in Grey and Bruce Counties entitled FERN CHECKLIST, printed by Stan Brown Printers Ltd., Owen Sound. On the back it states, "Welcome To Owen Sound. The Fern Capital of Ontario" and is written by Nelson (Nels) Maher. The 38 fern silhouettes with both common and scientific names is wonderful to have on a hike especially in the Sydenham section of the Bruce Trail.

There are numerous fern books on the market. One worth consideration is the The Ferns of Grey & Bruce Counties authored by the Bruce-Grey Plant Committee, Owen Sound Field Naturalists.

Below you will find a list of most of the ferns found in this area. They are listed by common name and the scientific name is provided. Below each fern species are two or more links that take you to other websites where you will find fern photographs.

 Featured Website - Ontario Ferns by Walter Muma ... and Much More

 
Bullet Right Ontario Ferns by Walter Muma NewCanadian Site - This site is a well illustrated and organized inventory of the ferns of Ontario. The first thing I checked was the inclusion of Walking Fern, Hart's Tongue Fern and Northern Holly Fern. Yes, they are there. Mr. Muma has listed some of the aforementioned ferns as uncommon or rare. However, us hikers see then frequently in the Owen Sound area. We hope that such species remain fairly common and do not become victims of urban sprawl.

There are links to other sites Mr. Muma has created such as Ontario Wildflowers (check out the Fringed Polygala, the rare white form), Ontario Trees, The World of Mosses and more.The "In Memory of Robert Muma" (Walter's father) section includes a very interesting profile of Robert Muma - well worth reading.

... SBTC hiker/webmaster/biology teacher (retired)

 

 Links to a Few Fern Websites

 

 

Arrow_Down BULBLET FERN (Cystopteris bulbifera)

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down BRACKEN FERN (Pteridium aquilinum)

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Wilderness of Northern Minnesota
New Jersey Pine Barrens

Arrow_Down CHAIN FERN - Woodwardia virginica or Anchistea virginica

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. Carolina State University

Arrow_Down CHRISTMAS FERN - Polystichum acrostichoides

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Photographs & descriptions of the flowering & non-flowering plants of Missouri, USA by Dan Tenaglia
Import Flowers Inc., Nashville

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down CINNAMON FERN - Osmunda cinnamomea

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Photographs & descriptions of the flowering & non-flowering plants of Missouri, USA by Dan Tenaglia
New Jersey Pine Barrens
Sand Prairies & Oak Savannas of the Chicago region
Albion College Vascular Plant Image Gallery, Michigan
Wilderness of Northern Minnesota

Arrow_Down CLIFFBRAKE FERN, PURPLE-STEMMED - Pellaea atropurpurea

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down CLIFFBRAKE FERN, SLENDER - Cryplogramma stelleri

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down CLIFFBRAKE FERN, SMOOTH - Pellaea glabella

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down CRESTED SHIELD FERN - Dryopteris cristata > Crested Woodfern or Crested Fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down FRAGILE FERN - Cystopteris fragilis> Brittle Fern or Brittle bladder fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University

Arrow_Down GLADE FERN, NARROW-LEAVED - Athyrium pycnocarpon> Diplazium pycnocarpon or Asplenium pycnocarpon > Narrow-leaved Spleenwort

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down GLADE FERN, SILVERY - Athyrium thelypterioides > Deparia acrostichoides or Diplazium acrostichoides

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down GOLDIE'S FERN - Dryopteris goldiana > Goldie's Wood Fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down HART'S TONGUE FERN - Phyllitis scolopendrium or Asplenium scolopendrium > Phyllitis = Greek for leafy; scolopendrium = centipede. Look at the underside of fronds to see the centipede.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
C.A.M. Lindman's Flora, from Project Runeberg (Sweden)
BioImages: The Virtual Field> Guide (UK)
Albion College Vascular Plant Image Gallery, MI

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down INTERUPTED FERN (Osmunda claytoniana)

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down LADY FERN (Athyrium filix-femina)

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down LEATHERY GRAPE FERN - Botrychium multifidum > Leather-Leaved Grape Fern

The Natural History of the Northwoods, Earl J.S. Rook
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum pedatum)

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT FERN (Asplenium trichomanes)

See Spleenwort below

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down MALE FERN - Dryopteris filix-mas

Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
New England Wild Flower Society

Arrow_Down MARGINAL SHIELD FERN - Dryopteris marginalis > Marginal Woodfern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down MARSH FERN - Thelypteris palustris or Thelypteris thelypteroides or Dryopteris thelypteris

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies

Arrow_Down NEW YORK FERN - Thelypteris noveboracensis or Parathelypteris noveboracensis

Connecticut Botanical Society
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University

Arrow_Down NORTHERN BEECH FERN - Thelypteris phegopteris or Phegopteris connectilis > Long Beech Fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down NORTHERN HOLLY FERN - Polystichum lonchitis > Alpine Shield Fern

La Flore du Québec
woodslore.org
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Boston Athenæum
The Natural History of the Northwoods, Earl J.S. Rook
Wisconsin State Herbarium

Arrow_Down OAK FERN - Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Connecticut Botanical Society

Arrow_Down OSTRICH FERN - Matteuccia struthiopteris > Pteretis pensylvanica

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns & Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, N. C. State University
Some Common Poisonous Plants in Nova Scotia
Plants of Minnesota & Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey
New York Botanical Garden (scroll down, 2nd image)
> Fresh Fiddleheads at Earthy Delights (recipes, etc.)

Arrow_Down POLYPODY, COMMON or ROCK - Polypodium vulgare or Polypodium virginianum

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Photographs & descriptions of the flowering & non-flowering plants of Missouri, by Dan Tenaglia

Arrow_Down RATTLESNAKE FERN - Botrychium virginianum or Botrypus virginianus > Moonwort or Grape Fern genus

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
Wilderness of Northern Minnesota
Plants of Minnesota & Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down ROBERT'S FERN - Gymnocarpium robertianum > Limestone Oak Fern

Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down ROYAL FERN - Osmonda regalis

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University

Arrow_Down RUSTY WOODSIA FERN - Woodsia ilvensis > Rusty Cliff Fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down SENSITIVE FERN - Onoclea sensibilis > Bead Fern

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Northwestern Ontario Forest: Common Ferns & Fern Ally Species

Arrow_Down SPLEENWORT, MAIDENHAIR - Asplenium trichomanes

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Ferns and Fern Allies in the Canberra Region, Australia
Albion College Vascular Plant Image Gallery, MI

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down SPLEENWORT, GREEN - Asplenium viride> Asplenium trichomanes-rasmosum

Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down SPLEENWORT, EBONY - Asplenium platyneuron

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La Flore du Québec

Arrow_Down SPLEENWORT, NARROW-LEAVED - Asplenium pycnocarpon

Connecticut Botanical Society - see Narrow-Leaved Glade Fern above

Arrow_Down SPINULOSE WOODFERN - Dryopteris spinulosa or D. carthusiana > Toothed or Common Woodfern

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey

Arrow_Down WALKING FERN - Camptosorus rhizophyllus or Asplenium rhizophyllum

Connecticut Botanical Society
Pteridophytes of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University
Albion College Vascular Plant Image Gallery, MI
Photographs & descriptions of the flowering & non-flowering plants of Missouri, by Dan Tenaglia
BIO 104 at Calhoun Community College, Alabama

Go to Top of PageArrow_Down WALL RUE FERN - Asplenium ruta-muraria

Connecticut Botanical Society
La Flore du Québec
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Photographs & descriptions of the flowering & non-flowering plants of Missouri, by Dan Tenaglia

Arrow_Down WOOD FERN, CRESTED - Dryopteris cristata > Crested Fern or Crested Shield Fern

See Crested Shield Fern above

Arrow_Down WOOD FERN, SPINULOSE - Dryopteris spinulosa > Toothed or Common Woodfern

See Spinulose Woodfern above.

 

 

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