Cystopteris protrusa is a common fern of North America, commonly known as the lowland bladderfern, lowland brittle fern or lowland fragile fern.[2]
| Cystopteris protrusa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cystopteris protrusa fronds | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Aspleniineae |
| Family: | Cystopteridaceae |
| Genus: | Cystopteris |
| Species: | C. protrusa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cystopteris protrusa | |
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
editUnlike 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
editCystopteris 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 - Cystopteris protrusa Lowland Bladderfern". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Cystopteris protrusa - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "Cystopteris protrusa page". www.missouriplants.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "Cystopteris protrusa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "Cystopteris protrusa (Weatherby) Blasdell - Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)". data.canadensys.net. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "Plants Profile for Cystopteris protrusa (lowland bladderfern)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "NameThatPlant.net: Cystopteris protrusa". www.namethatplant.net. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ "Southern Fragile Fern (Cystopteris protrusa)". www.illinoiswildflowers.info. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
External links
edit
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