Name: |
- Botyrichium, from the Greek botrus (botrys), "grape"; the Grape Ferns
- virginianum, from the Latin, "of Virginia". Like many North
American species, it was named for the place where it was first identified.
- Rattlesnake Fern, from the resemblance of the clustered sporangia
to a snake's rattle.
- Other common names include Virginia Grape Fern, Masasizikwa
(Abenaki), Botryche de Virginie (Qué), Lehtonoidanlukko
(Fin), Stor Låsbräken, Hundlokelåsbräken
(Swe), Stormarinøkkel (Nor), Virginische Mondraute
(Ger), Virginiai Holdruta (Hun)
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Polypodiophyta, the True Ferns
- Class Filicopsida
- Order Ophioglossales
- Family Ophioglossaceae, the Adder's Tongue or
Succulent Ferns
- Genus Botrychium, the Grape Ferns
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 17173
- Twelve species of Grape Fern (Botrychium
spp.) occur in Canoe Country, all but Rattlesnake Fern being rare or
extremely rare.
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Description: |
- Largest and most common Grape Fern in our area, 12"-18" tall.
- Sterile Frond a single leaf bright green, membranous, and lacy;
large and broadly triangular, 10" long and 12" wide, divided into leaflets
on short stems.
- Petiole (leaf stalk) erect, smooth, succulent, and
round; 12" long; pink at base.
- Pinnae (leaflets) oblong, cut, and toothed.
- Fertile frond arising from base of leaf on slender 12" stalk, branched,
bearing many spherical, bright yellow spore cases. Appears early summer
and soon withers.
- Rootstock small, upright.
- Roots stout, fleshy, and tangled; branching and spreading,
2" or deeper, with numerous vertical, bud-like appendages.
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Identification: |
- Recognized as a Grape Fern by its large, single leaf and, in early
summer, the single fertile stem arching above it.
- Distinguished from other northern Grape Ferns by its much larger size
and the lacy, thin textured, non-leathery leaf.
- Field Marks
- Single leaf paired (in season) with single fertile frond
- Broad, lacy, triangular leaf
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Distribution: |
- Labrador to British Columbia; south to Florida and Mexico. Also Eurasia.
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Habitat: |
- Rich woods, moist or dry; moist thickets, higher spots in bogs.
- Acid soils.
- Shaded areas; soon disappears from sunny locations.
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Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 2 (average minimum annual temperature -50ºF)
- Cultural Requirements
- Must have shade
- Prefers rich, moist woodland soils
- A difficult plant for the garden
- Occasionally available by mail order from specialty suppliers
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Last Updated on
26 February, 2004
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