Sightings – Ferns
Observer: Kathy Farrell
Observation Date: 10/31/18
Observation Time: N/A
Observation Location: Off Mountain Street, off Bay Rd.
Common Name: Evergreen Fern, or Christmas Fern
Scientific Name: Polystichum acrostichoides
Comments: One of the commonest ferns in eastern North America, being found in moist and shady habitats in woodlands, rocky slopes, and stream banks. The common name derives from the evergreen fronds which are often still green at Christmas in December.
More information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/22/18
Observation Time: 9:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook
Common Name: Cinnamon Fern
Scientific Name: Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Comments: The Osmundastrum cinnamomeum fern forms huge clonal colonies in swampy areas. These ferns form massive rootstocks with densely matted, wiry roots. This root mass is an excellent substrate for many epiphytal plants. They are often harvested as osmunda fiber and used horticulturally, especially in propagating and growing orchids. Cinnamon Ferns do not actually produce cinnamon; they are named for the color of the fertile fronds.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/11
Observation Time: 6:55 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Hay-scented Fern
Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon. It is often found growing in large colonies, forming a green carpet on the forest floor. It can be identified by its lacy, light-green fronds. It can be confused with New York fern, but hay-scented fern has triangular fronds, whereas New York fern fronds taper to tiny leaflets at the bottom.
More Information: Connecticut Botanical Society
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/18
Observation Time: 6:55 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings loop)
Common Name: Hay-scented Fern
Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon. It is often found growing in large colonies, forming a green carpet on the forest floor. It can be identified by its lacy, light-green fronds. It can be confused with New York fern, but hay-scented fern has triangular fronds, whereas New York fern fronds taper to tiny leaflets at the bottom.
More Information: Go Botany
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/4/20
Observation Time: 1:25 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Interrupted fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda claytonia
Comments: The species name (claytoniana) is a tribute to John Clayton, an 18th century botanist and one of the earliest collectors of plant specimens in what later became the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The common name (Interrupted Fern) is a reference to the fact that the blade of fertile fronds is interrupted by several fertile leaflets in the midsection. Early sources refer to this fern as Clayton’s Fern.
More Information: Ferns of the Adirondacks
Interrupted fern (left) and hay-scented fern (right):
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/23
Observation Time: 7:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk)
Common Name: Marsh Fern
Scientific Name: Thelypteris pelustris
Comments: This diminutive fern is typically found in wetlands.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/11
Observation Time: 6:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary board walk
Common Name: Royal Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
Comments: The royal fern belongs to the family Osmundaceae; fossils belonging to this family have been found in rocks of Permian age (230,000,000 years before present), a time when the continents were consolidated into the supercontinent Pangea.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/23
Observation Time: 7:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Royal Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
Comments: The royal fern belongs to the family Osmundaceae; fossils belonging to this family have been found in rocks of Permian age (230,000,000 years before present), a time when the continents were consolidated into the supercontinent Pangea.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/13/20
Observation Time: 5:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Royal Fern
Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
Comments: The royal fern belongs to the family Osmundaceae; fossils belonging to this family have been found in rocks of Permian age (230,000,000 years before present), a time when the continents were consolidated into the supercontinent Pangea.
More Information: Wikipedia
