Cystopteris protrusa
Cystopteris protrusa fronds

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Aspleniineae
Family: Cystopteridaceae
Genus: Cystopteris
Species:
C. protrusa
Binomial name
Cystopteris protrusa
(Weatherby) Blasdell

Cystopteris protrusa is a common fern of North America, commonly known as the lowland bladderfern, lowland brittle fern or lowland fragile fern.[2]

The plant is native to eastern Canada, and the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Throughout much of its range it is the most common Cystopteris fern species.[3][4]

Description

Unlike most species of the genus Cystopteris, this fern is exclusively terrestrial, often forming large, dense colonies. It is also largely a spring ephemeral. Some fronds may remain by late summer, but most have disappeared.[5]

The specific name, protrusa, refers to the fact that the rhizome protrudes a short distance beyond the current year's fronds to form the following year's leaf buds. This protrusion is a positive diagnostic in the field. Sori are round and covered in a bladder-like indusium.[6]

Taxonomy

Cystopteris protrusa was originally considered only a variety of Cystopteris fragilis.[7] However, it is now known that this is a diploid species, while C. fragilis (ss) is a polyploid species of hybrid origin. C. protrusa is a parent of the hybrid species Cystopteris tennesseensis and Cystopteris tenuis.[8]

See also

References

  1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 - Cystopteris protrusa Lowland Bladderfern". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. "Cystopteris protrusa - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  3. "Cystopteris protrusa page". www.missouriplants.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  4. "Cystopteris protrusa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  5. "Cystopteris protrusa (Weatherby) Blasdell - Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)". data.canadensys.net. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  6. "Plants Profile for Cystopteris protrusa (lowland bladderfern)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  7. "NameThatPlant.net: Cystopteris protrusa". www.namethatplant.net. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  8. "Southern Fragile Fern (Cystopteris protrusa)". www.illinoiswildflowers.info. Retrieved 2019-06-03.


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