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Posted: Nov/14/2008 10:13 AM PST
Are there any fern experts hanging out on this site? Nobody ever seems to go to the "ferns and mosses" section. I love my wild ferns and have a bunch of different kinds I've identified but I have one I can't put a name to. |
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Posted: Nov/14/2008 4:06 PM PST
I know a fair number of wild ferns, I can give it a try. |
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Posted: Nov/14/2008 10:35 PM PST
Oh good! It seems to be a rattlesnake fern but it's a beautiful dark burgundy color. I have some of the normal lighter green ones in the garden, but all the ones in the area I came across the other day were burgundy. LOL I would think it's because it's FALL, but my green ones are withering from cold and are still green/brown. And the burgundy ones seem stunningly healthy, not like they're at the end of their cycle. I can't find any mention of burgundy rattlesnake ferns online either. I brought some home with the soil from around the roots, mixed it with a really light potting soil, and have them potted up for the winter. I'm hoping they'll do better inside than being transplanted so late. Attachments:    |
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Posted: Nov/15/2008 10:16 AM PST
Possibly a form of Botrychium dissectum, Cut-leaf Grape Fern? http://www.missouriplants.com/Ferns/Botrychium_dis sectum_page.html http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants /bronze_fern.htm http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/ferns/botrychi umdiss.html http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCod e=BOTDIS ~remove any spaces in the url~ |
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Posted: Nov/15/2008 10:54 AM PST
Rosemarie, you are amazing!! I was looking for "rattlesnake fern" and missed this close cousin. Thanks! I guess it does bronze in the fall, but looks so healthy because it's evergreen. They sure are beautiful, I can't wait to plant them outside in the spring. |
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Posted: Nov/15/2008 5:13 PM PST
Thanks, Aimee! Glad to help!  Well, I start playing detective with the clues you give. 
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Posted: Nov/15/2008 6:40 PM PST
Hey, didn't I post that as a mystery plant one time? Yes, rattlesnake fern comes up fresh in spring and goes dormant in the winter. This one, what I call "grape" fern, comes up fresh in fall and goes dormant in the late spring. The bronze color is always a treat. |
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Posted: Nov/15/2008 8:11 PM PST
I hope it hangs in there OK in the pots. I guess I could have waited until spring to get one for the garden, but I've never noticed them in spring. I guess that's cause they're dormant, huh? And in summer there's so many brambles and poison ivy... It's been four days now and they still look very happy, so hopefully all is well. |
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Posted: Nov/16/2008 9:47 AM PST
Yeah, I think they transplant ok. Mostly you want to make sure you get a good bit of the surrounding native soil to ensure that you bring a healthy population of the beneficial organisms that live with it. |
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Posted: Nov/23/2008 6:44 AM PST
Cool fern  Wish I could find such a neat plant to put in my fern gardens
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