erwin_pteridophilos's Favourites

A couple of substantially larger plants, growing in fully sheltered overhangs, next to several P. kruckebergii. I'm tentatively calling these the same species by association, although they have rather more divided leaflets. They also seem to lack any distinct spines, making them look rather similar to P scopulinum. Perhaps just an environmental factor, growing in a shady sheltered location, as compared to their neighbours that are exposed to the sun & snow?

Unsure on this one, but would lean towards P. kruckebergii over lemmonii.

Highly divided, but slightly pointed tips to the lobes. Slightly thicker texture, and very long narrow fronds with some bent in the middle (P lemmonii strikes me as more upright "feather-like" fronds). The frond in the background at top of the 3rd picture shows the pointed teeth that I'm tempted to call a good indicator of kruckebergii.

Growing with P. munitum, with both species in the first two pictures for direct comparison of the similar colour & texture. One frond with a damaged tip, creating a fresh sprout attempt that can look quite similar to a bulblet. Below center in last photo, with the rest of the plants being munitum - this one blends in much better than any andersonii or braunii would.

Potentially the same plant as photographed a few years ago, as it was the only prominent one along the trail:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12259714

It looks like similar small plants have been reported as W. ilvensis here in the far northwest, but definitely very different from the only ilvensis I have seen further south in the Rockies. Not sure how to distinguish from W. alpina, as it seems closer to the description of that species.

This one stood out from a distance, with overall form strongly like P. lonchitis, but with noticeable toothed leaflets.

Very glossy and stiff leaflets, proportionally quite long.

The pressed specimen however strikes me quite differently. The glossiness is gone now, and without the tilt to the leaflets they look much more crowded and not as long & thin.

Not sure about the spores, but they look to have matured normally?

My original thought had been a hybrid of P. lonchitis x kruckebergii, but I'm less sure now.

If it isn't a hybrid, I would have called it P. lonchitis based on the general appearance in the field (perhaps this species can have occasional toothiness like munitum?), but based on the pressed specimen I would go with P. kruckebergii instead based on the crowdedness and rather deep divisions.

Growing on rock outcrop with several large clumps of P. kruckebergii (and lemmonii not far away), but lonchitis was also common throughout the area with scattered plants widely distributed.

Edit...
Repeat visit in 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183925296
And Peter Zika's record: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182937780

At first glance similar to a Bracken Fern - but not a Bracken Fern (Pteridium) species with which I am familiar, or not a Bracken at all.

The 4th photo shows details of the shape of the indusium (I was most fortunate that a single leaflet proffered its abaxial surface (underside)).

In the mist zone behind the falls, and inaccessible.

NOTE #1: a 5th photo added, a close-up that was cropped from the first photo

NOTE#2: Photos 6, 7, 8, 9 snapped and added 12 August 2021. These show crisp details of the sori and fronds.

NOTE#3: see separate observation of another group of this fern higher up on the cliff, just to the left of the falls; the photos are not as crisp as my camera is not equipped for long-distance telephoto photos. All the same, the details (albeit a bit more grainy) are there. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90888195

NOTE#4: 14 August 2021; photo 10 added - detail of grooved upper/adaxial surface of stipe; adaxial groove appears continuous into branches from main stipe; photo 10 cropped from photo8

2ND PLANT, DISTANT LOCATION
11 OCTOBER 2021
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97995288

Mud Creek Falls, Georgia

A tiny fern puzzle, and perhaps not worth the bother. I notice silvery hairs glittering on the base of the young fronds. Their presence suggests either Woodsia obtusa or Dryopteris intermedia. The pointed lobes of the leaflets suggest D. intermedia. Perhaps there are more clues in the pattern of leaflet venation?

Mud Creek Falls, Georgia

Why Dryopteris carthusiana ?

• no short glandular hairs discerned on any stem section nor leaf surface, not even fresh growth
• innermost basal-most acroscopic (toward stem tip) and basioscopic (toward bottom of stem) sub-leaflets are offset from one another, and the acroscopic sub-leaflet is slightly reduced in size
• if it were instead Dryopteris campyloptera I would expect the inner-most basal-most sub-leaflet to be much longer than the adjacent sub-leaflet

Traits not in favor of Dryopteris carthusiana

• inner-most basal-most sub-leaflet not longer than the adjacent sub-leaflet, a trait of D. intermedia
• apparent evergreen condition, however, the proximity to the falls, and the location beneath an overhanging ledge offer protection from the cold, as exemplified by the un-frosted (not crispy brown as are all the other members of its kind in the area) Athyrium asplenioides (or is it Cystopteris protrusa?) to the left of the *Dryopteris in the last photo

If I allow that short glandular hairs need not be present to assign a Dryopteris to D. intermedia, then this individual edges closer to that identification, albeit with the problem of the inner-most basal-most acroscopic and basioscopic sub-leaflet morphology of this individual