noclea sensibilis
Table of Contents
Common Name: Sensitive Fern
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Tracheophyta |
| Class: Polypodiopsida |
| Order: Polypodiales |
| Family: Onocleaceae |
| Genus: Onoclea |
| Species: Onoclea sensibilis |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
Sensitive ferns are between 24-36" long. Their fronds are pale green and once compound. There are approximately 12 pairs of leaflets with wavy edges and a leatherly texture.
Habitat & Range
This fern prefers moist forested areas and is found in Eastern and Central North America, Europe, and parts of Eastern Asia.
Behavior
They are named due to their quick die off after the first frost.
Life Cycle
The sori, or spore producing recepticles, are located on a seperate frond and appear like a brown bead and are clustered. This fertile frond will persist through the winter.
Featured image by James Dake
Related
Thelypteris noveboracensis
New York Fern
Dryopteris carthusiana
Spinulose Wood Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Fern