rchampiny's Identifications

This seedless vascular plant was found in a dense area of a nature preserve. The plants were not receiving much sunlight as there were many trees blocking it. This plant has long spiky leaves that gather in the center, almost resembling a fan. The biggest identifier of this plant is the long spiky leaves and the half moon shape in which the leaves gather at the center.

Description: This fern was found growing on a live oak tree. It was green and each frond was about 6 inches in length. The spores were visible on the underside of each frond. Other plants, such as moss and lichens, were also present on the tree surrounding the fern. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the resurrection fern gets its name due to the fact it can lose up to 97 percent of its water during a drought and shrivels up but never actually dies.

Habitat: This fern was found on a live oak tree in my neighborhood. Although the day was hot and dry, there seemed to be plenty of moisture in the surrounding area. This neighborhood is surrounded by wetlands and a nature preserve. The resurrection fern is known to grow in several habitats but needs a host plant to live on and often favors oak trees.

Reference: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Resurrection-Fern

This area of moss was found hanging from tree branches in a grassy area. The moss was grey in color. The moss has a spiral/ thin shape. It was present in bunches together. It was found in the evening and the weather was around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the USDA plant guide, this moss grows in humid areas and is found in the southeastern region of the United States (https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_tius.pdf).

Fern spotted at Lettuce lake park in Tampa florida, that was approximately a foot tall and the leaves were approximately an inch wide. This is a seedless vascular plants, as identified by the spores, and the plant was found in a forest environment, in a shady area https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fidiggreenacres.com%2Fproducts%2Fsouthern-sword-fern&psig=AOvVaw3UgLIJV9i-IppjvNP3k2Ss&ust=1612977593720000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCLiCzrao3e4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD