Name: |
- Polystichum, from the Greek polus
(polus), "many", and sticos
(stichos), "row or file", a reference to the regular rows
of fruitdots common to this genus of ferns.
- lonchitis, from the Greek logch
(logche), "spear", hence "spear shaped"
- Common name from the holly-like appearance of the leaflets.
- Other common names include Narrow Holly Fern, Polystic faux-lonchitis
(Qué), Taggbräken (Swe), Taggbregne (Nor), Krumfinnet
Skjoldbregne (Dan), Suippohärkylä (Fin), Skjaldburkni
(Is), Lanzen-Schildfarn, Scharfer Schildfarn (Ger), Polystic
en lance, Polystic en forme de lance (Fr), Kapradinka hrálovitá
(Cz), Škeplapu cietpaparde (Lv)
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Polypodiophyta, the True Ferns
- Class Filicopsida
- Order Polypodiales
- Family Dryopteridaceae, the Wood Ferns
- Genus Polystichum, the Holly Ferns
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 17686
- Also known as Polypodium lonchitis
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Description: |
- An evergreen fern of the far north, to be looked for on the cliffs along
the Canadian border.
- Fronds monomorphic, erect, not arching except at tip, 4"-24"
- Petiole (leaf stalk) 1/10--1/6 of blade, densely
scaly; scales light brown, gradually diminishing in size toward tip.
- Blade once-cut, linear, often widest above middle,
with narrowed base.
- Pinnae (primary leaflets) oblong to lanceolate, lower
pinnae more-or-less triangular, rarely overlapping, and in a single
plane, ¼"-1¼", edges spiny with spreading teeth;
scales dense, on underside only.
- Rootstalk short, stout, erect, and very scaly.
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Identification: |
- Identifiable as a Holly Fern by its once-cut leaves with spiny edges.
No other fern in the North Country has both once-cut fronds and spiny edges.
- Field Marks
- holly-like shape of frond
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Distribution: |
- Alaska and the Yukon, south to California and in the Rockies to Utah and
Colorado; Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the Gaspé,
Newfoundland, and Greenland.
- Not collected from our area, but known from adjacent north Ontario.
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Habitat: |
- In rock crevices or at base of boulders, mostly in boreal and subalpine
coniferous forests or alpine regions
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Fire: |
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Associates: |
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History: |
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Uses: |
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Reproduction: |
- By spore and vegetatively by rhizome
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Propagation: |
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Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
- Not generally available commercially.
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Links: |
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Comments: |
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Last Updated on
26 February, 2004
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