Polypodium virginianum L.
Common polypody, rock polypody, rock cap fern
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Pteridophyta Ferns
Class Filicopsida “Leptosporangiate” (has to do with how their spores form) ferns—includes most ferns
Order Polypodiales Polypod ferns
Family Polypodiaceae Polypod ferns, many of which are epiphytes—they grow on other plants without harming them
Genus Polypodium From Greek polus, “many,” and podos, “foot”
Species virginianum “Of Virginia”
About plant names...
Rock polypody is native to eastern North America, and possibly also to Japan, Korea, Mongolia,
and eastern Siberia. It forms a springy, verdant carpet over
rocks, even in winter. It is also partial to cliffs. It prefers dampness and shade.
Identification: Smaller than most ferns, rock polypody
has narrow fronds 3-16″ (8-40 cm) long and 1-2″ (3-6 cm) wide, on smooth stems (petioles )
1-6″ (3-15 cm) long. Fronds are erect and often arched, oblong, lanceolate -oblong, or elliptic -oblong in
general shape, containing 8-20 pairs of leaflets, and usually widest toward the middle.
While many ferns emerge from a central rhizome, these
are haphazardly oriented.
Leaflets are oblong and acuminate . The angle formed between successive leaflets is very
acute , while similar appearing resurrection ferns’ are concave.
In summer and fall, round sori ,
arranged in neat rows and columns of fuzzy-looking pale brown dots, appear on the leaf undersides. The sori lack
a protective membrane (indusia ).
Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ...
The Natural History of the Northwoods
Illinois Wildflowers
Wikipedia
References:
Cobb, Boughton, Farnsworth, Elizabeth & Lowe, Cheryl, Peterson Field Guides: Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America , Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005 , p. 194
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire
10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (8.7 × 13 cm)
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (79 × 53 cm)
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Polypodium vulgare auct. non L. p.p.
Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton
Polypodium virginianum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
8/15/2015 · Moose Cave, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
10/3/2010 · George W. Childs State Park, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania ID is uncertain
9/26/2010 · Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
4/29/2016 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6½ × 4′ (2.0 × 1.3 m)
10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, Massachusetts
4/3/2010 · Mt. Battie (Elev. 780'), Camden, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
Range:
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