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Tag Archive for: nature facts

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CRAZY FACTS: Does a fern have a heart?

February 23, 2016/in Education, Science & Life /by Sierra Club

Indeed, it does! It’s not a beating heart, pumping life-sustaining blood, like mine and yours, but it is life sustaining. The small, heart-shaped gametophyte is necessary stage of reproduction for (most) ferns—and a natural “valentine.”

Unlike the majority of plants with which we are familiar, ferns do not produce seeds. Instead, this ancient lineage of plants, produces spores. Have you ever looked on the underside of a fern and seen fuzzy little circles? These are sori and they hold thousand of spores that will be dispersed by the wind. Spores then develop into heart-shaped gameotophytes and produce eggs and sperm cells, the latter which then have to be dispersed by water. Egg cells are fertilized on the gametophyte and the fertilized cell (a zygote) develops into a full-fledged fern.

A good technical breakdown of the fern life-cycle is available here. For a fun, more readable version, see the story on Sword Ferns in the Uncommon Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest.

Image by kaibara87 via Flickr.

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Species Story: Licorice Fern

February 23, 2016/in Education, Science & Life /by Sierra Club

The licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) is common on the west coast of North America, from northern California to the coast of Alaska. Compared to the large, evergreen sword ferns (Polystichum munitum) common in the territories of the K’omoks, the Haida, and many other First Nations, the licorice fern is generally much smaller (10-60 cm fronds compared to the 20-150 cm fronds of the sword fern).

Some other distinctive characteristics of the licorice fern are where and how it grows. Licorice ferns often grow on rocky outcroppings, logs, and even on trees like the Big Leaf Maple. You can also rely on the bubbly, Dr-Seuss type quality of the leaves on the smallest fronds as a hint that you are likely looking at a licorice fern. If you’re out with a knowledgeable forager, they might offer you a taste. The rhizomes (horizontal, underground stems) have a mild licorice taste and can be chewed or steeped to make a medicinal tea, traditionally used to treat colds and sore throats.

Image by J. Brew via Flickr

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