Montshire Minute: Ferns

Originally aired during the week of June 4, 2007

Monday

You don't have to look far this time of year to see a prehistoric plant: ferns are all around us. The oldest fern fossils date back to about 345 million years ago. This was the early Carboniferous period, named for the huge coal beds formed by the remains of ferns and other ancient plant life. These coal beds provided much of the fuel for the Industrial Revolution. Following the demise of the dinosaur and the massive extinction of many other life forms, ferns were the first plant species to revegetate the earth. In what is known as the "fern spike," an extraordinary number of ferns formed a dense protective ground covering, allowing seed plants to recover gradually. The Osmunda family (the Royal family) is one of the oldest fern groups, dating way back to the fern spike. This local family includes the Cinnamon fern and the Interrupted fern.

Tuesday

In early May, Upper Valley foragers get ready to feast on a long awaited crop: the fern fiddlehead. Fiddlehead, or crozier refers to the young tightly furled fronds of a new fern. Not surprisingly, the fiddlehead is named for its close resemblance to the scroll on the top of a fiddle. During their brief season, fiddleheads are available in farmer's markets and local grocery stores, and often appear on menus in New England restaurants. They have been a traditional dish for centuries in Asia, New Zealand, and native cultures in North America. If you decide to forage on your own, you will need to be selective. While all ferns start out as fiddleheads, the ostrich fern is safest for eating and reported to be the tastiest. Look for plants with a papery brown rather than woolly covering over the fiddleheads and a long notch on each stem. They may be eaten raw or cooked, and taste similar to asparagus and okra. Bon appetit!

Wednesday

When you hear the word "plant," a vascular plant most likely comes to mind. In contrast to non-vascular plants, like moss and algae, vascular plants have specialized tissue, like roots, stems and leaves. This system transports water and nutrients throughout the plant, allowing it to grow tall and strong. Trees, flowers, and ferns all fall into this category. In the Upper Valley, we mostly see ferns in moist shady woodlands, sheltered rock faces and in bogs. In tropical forests, some ferns grow as tall as trees! While you won't find a fern that large here, the cinnamon fern can grow up to five feet tall in the right conditions. On Saturday, June 30, join botanist Chris Mattrick at Montshire for a lesson on where to find the cinnamon fern and other common New England ferns.

Thursday

At this point in the summer, ferns are preparing the next generation. Rather than depending on insects for pollenization, ferns reproduce by spores, which are carried in the air. Dozens of tiny spots called "fruitdots" form on the undersides of the leaflets. Each fruitdot contains about fifteen spore cases, each in turn holding 64 spores. With this scenario occurring on hundreds of leaflets on each frond, a single fern plant can potentially release a million or more spores each year. When there is just a tiny bit of moisture present, the ripe fruitdots burst, and each spore case catapults its cache of spores away from the plant, falling nearby or traveling on the wind. Individual spores are difficult to see with the naked eye, but together they form a fine powder. Don't try to blame your allergies on ferns, though; those are due to the pollen of flowering plants.

Friday

There are about 10,000 species of true ferns worldwide, in climates varying from temperate zones to tropical forests. Ferns often appear in art and literature as a symbol of new life. In Taiwan, a species called serpent's-tongue is dried and ground to brew as a tea with general good health benefits. A similar species is used in England, where a fern-collecting craze developed in the mid-nineteenth century. Spanning several decades, collectors in search of decorative and unusual garden plants nearly drove several rare species to extinction. The New Zealand national emblem is the silver fern, representing unity and strength. On Saturday, June 30, join botanist Chris Mattrick at Montshire for a lesson on where to find the cinnamon fern and other common New England ferns.

Saturday

Ferns are non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores—tiny, dust-like particles. Ferns appeared with other non-flowering plants like clubmosses and horsetails hundreds of millions of years ago. Ferns lack true leaves, stems, and roots—nearly all ferns are perennial (a single plant needs several years and two distinct stages to complete its life cycle). Some ferns are evergreen, and can be found all year, while others are visible only in summer. Learn more about these amazing plants on Saturday, June 30. Botonist Chris Mattrick at Montshire for a lesson on where to find the cinnamon fern and other common New England ferns. The program is sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society. Visit the Museum's website at www.montshire.org for information on how to register.