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.
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.
 BULBLET FERN (Cystopteris
bulbifera)
|
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
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 |
CHAIN FERN - Woodwardia
virginica or Anchistea
virginica |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
La
Flore du Québec
Hardy
Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. Carolina State
University |
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 |
 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 |
CLIFFBRAKE FERN, PURPLE-STEMMED - Pellaea
atropurpurea |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
CLIFFBRAKE FERN, SLENDER - Cryplogramma
stelleri |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
CLIFFBRAKE FERN, SMOOTH - Pellaea
glabella |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
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 |
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 |
GLADE FERN, NARROW-LEAVED
- Athyrium pycnocarpon> Diplazium
pycnocarpon or Asplenium
pycnocarpon > Narrow-leaved Spleenwort |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
GLADE FERN, SILVERY - Athyrium
thelypterioides > Deparia
acrostichoides or Diplazium
acrostichoides |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
GOLDIE'S FERN - Dryopteris
goldiana > Goldie's Wood Fern |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
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 |
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 |
LADY FERN (Athyrium
filix-femina) |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
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 |
MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum
pedatum) |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT FERN (Asplenium
trichomanes) |
See Spleenwort below |
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 |
MARGINAL SHIELD FERN - Dryopteris
marginalis > Marginal Woodfern |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
MARSH FERN - Thelypteris
palustris or Thelypteris
thelypteroides or Dryopteris
thelypteris |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
La
Flore du Québec
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies |
NEW YORK FERN - Thelypteris
noveboracensis or Parathelypteris
noveboracensis |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Hardy
Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University |
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 |
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 |
OAK FERN - Gymnocarpium
dryopteris |
Connecticut
Botanical Society |
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.) |
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 |
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 |
ROBERT'S FERN - Gymnocarpium
robertianum > Limestone Oak Fern |
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
ROYAL FERN - Osmonda
regalis |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
Hardy
Ferns, Dept. of Horticultural Science, N. C. State University |
RUSTY WOODSIA FERN - Woodsia
ilvensis > Rusty Cliff Fern |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
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  |
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 |
SPLEENWORT, GREEN - Asplenium
viride> Asplenium trichomanes-rasmosum |
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
SPLEENWORT, EBONY - Asplenium
platyneuron |
Connecticut
Botanical Society
Pteridophytes
of Wisconsin: Ferns and Fern Allies
La
Flore du Québec |
SPLEENWORT, NARROW-LEAVED - Asplenium
pycnocarpon |
Connecticut
Botanical Society - see Narrow-Leaved
Glade Fern above |
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 |
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 |
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 |
WOOD FERN, CRESTED - Dryopteris
cristata > Crested Fern or Crested Shield Fern |
See Crested Shield Fern above |
WOOD FERN, SPINULOSE - Dryopteris
spinulosa > Toothed or Common Woodfern |
See Spinulose Woodfern above. |
|
Introduction 
-
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.
