Ferns (2)„opogvate 4s,„
SENSITIVE
Once - cut
CINNAMON
Twice cut
Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Dennis Puleston
x
HAY - SCENTED
Thrice - cut
of Brookhaven
Focus on Nature
FERNS
By Elizabeth Honnett
Is there anyone who . has not
wandered in some meadow or
wood and seen a cluster of ferns?
Or anyone who has not seen ferns
give a delicate quality to a flor-
ist's bouquet or corsage?
Have you ever wondered what
these lacy plants are, or whether
many varieties existed, or if they d
could be picked, or transplanted,
or mounted, or home grown? d
It is with these questions in g
mind that today's column has i
been prepared.
The ferns common to Long t
Island are easily identified. The
ferns, as a whole, are an ex- f
cellent group to study. There are s
only about one hundred species a
native to the Northeast; they are s
easily identified with the aid of o
a good field guide. q
Unlike birds, ferns remain s
where we find them. They can be a
picked and taken home for closer fr
study. They can be preserved in
a simple plant press. They press fe
well, and mounted on white con- th
struction paper and framed pre- f
sent pleasing decorations. Many nu
ferns adapt will to terrariums is
and pots; many also can be fe
transplanted to. the garden.. is
Ferns are f o u n d abundantly w
along streams, in woods, along in
the highway, in sunny open mea- la
dows, in tow swamps, in dimly lit lea
moist crevices, or growing be- let
tween rocks or on cliffs.
Growing commonly in one or
more of these places are t h e
Cinnamon, Marsh, and Sensitive
Ferns, and Bracken. Less fre-
quent, but still not rare, are the
Interrupted and Christmas Ferns.
Rarer, are the Spleenworts, and
the medium -sized delicate ferns
such as the Lady, New Y o r k,
Spinulose Woodfern, and Massa-
chusetts Ferns.
One of the things that makes
ferns a challenging study is the
ease with which one fern can be
mistaken for another. The Oak
and Bracken Iook very much
alike. Also the Wood Ferns, Lady
Ferns, New York, and Massachu-
setts can be confusing to t h e
amateur, because of their ap-
parent likenesses.
However, after a short view of
the field guide. the differences are
easily distinguished. Another thing
that makes the study of f erns
enjoyable is the possibility of dis-
The ferns belong to a larg
of flowerless, seedless plants b
differentiated into root, stem,
and leaves (fronds). They repro
by means of asexual spores, fruit
ing on the back of the f
Interestingly enough, they
among the most primitive o
plants — the majority of th
appeared 100 million years
and formed their basic struc the great coal age.
There are three basic struct
ifferences that distinguish
roup of ferns from the of
n appearance. This differ
exists in the Ieaves, or frond
he ferns.
The next time you see
erns in the woods, and t h
eem to be different from
nother, took closely and you will
ee that some will appear filmy
✓ lacy, while others seem to be
uite coarse. Actually what cau-
es these variations in appear -
nce is the structure of the
onds.
by Paul Stoutenburgh
Cutchogue
e ordernearly as possible resemble
being place from where the ferns
an taken.
duce An excellent source for the
transplanting of ferns is an es-
nds. say, "Ferns in the Flower Gar -
are den" by Lincoln Foster. This es-
f all say can be found in A Field
hem Guide to the Ferns, The Peterson
ago, Field Guide Series, by Boughton
ture Cobb, Houghton MuffIin Company,
Boston, 1956. The cost is $3.95.
ural The same field guide will prove
each an excellent source in identifica-
hers tion of the ferns.
ence The ferns are an excelle
s, of group if you desire to master o
of the fields of natural histol
some There are many varieties, I
they are easily identified. Th
e Y can be collected, dried in a pia
one press, mounted and framed, pt
viding a unique decoration.
Finally, thy can be trampler
ed, offering a picturesque garde
Their fresh greeness and the
lovely form make a delightful a
dition to Nature's world,
Dennis Puleston reports:
Dickcissel - May 11 - Brookhave
ellport High School Group
reports May 13 at Yaphank
Rough - winged Swallow
Black -poll
Northern Water - thrush
Louisiana Water - thrush
Black- thorated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Blue- winged Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Redstart
arlet Tanager
!port High School Group
re May 14 Wading River
There are three catagories of
rns according to the "cut" of
e frond. Those ferns where the
Bellport • is composed of a stem with
tubers of smooth -edged leaflets
a once -cut fern. The twice -cut
rns are those where the frond
not only cut into leaflets but
here the Ieaflets are cut again
to subleaflets. The thrice -cut or
cy ferns are those where the
f is cut into leaflets, the leaf-
s into subleaflets, and the sub -
leaflets cut into lobes. Sc
A "cut" occurs only when the
leaflet is cut to the stem, forming Bel
a distinct leaflet. Hence the Sensi- r
tive Fern is a once -cut fern, but Su
the Lady ferns are twice -cut. Wil
From this point, with the aid of Cel
the fern field guide, the species
can be identified. Be
Ferns can be collected and
mmer Tanager
son's Warbler
andine in blossom
Bell High School Group
port May 14 Mt Sinai
re
pressed in a simply -made plant Yel
press. Several things to remember
when collecting are: choose good Hou
specimens, make notes on the Sno of surrounding area, a n d woad
pick them at the very bottom of Old
the stem.
Ferns when pressed, dry al- Art
most true to color and form. re
They can be mounted on paper Phil
with one of the "milky" glues, tin
taking care not to break the now- Yell
brittle leaflets. This aspect of Pa
low - crowned Night Heron
nesting
se Wren
owy Egrets
Pewee
Squaws' in breeding plumage
hur Cooley
ports May 14
adelphia Vireo - Bayard Cut -
g Arboretum
ow- breasted Chat - East
tchogue
fern collecting is a rewarding
one. L R
In texture, color, and shape repo
proclaim themselves as th
ection of green leaf forms
this reason many people e
the presence of ferns in thei
ens. Ferns are the real es
e of the woods and meadows
thus can add a great deal
any garden.
owever, the transplanting of
is a tricky matter, due to
delicacy. The soil and ec-
,n +h. .,..._.a.._ _z_.
ferns
covering a rarer species. pelf
Ostrich, Male, Maidenhair, Hay - For
scented and Beech ferns are rare joy
on Long Island. Also scarce on gard
the Island are the Woodsia and sent
Cliff Ferns, but the possibility and
of finding one of these rarer ferns to
should keep the observer on the H
look -out. They can be found! ferns
Let us proceed to the structure their
and general appearance of ferns. ntnou
Ernest
rts:
e Oyster Catcher - May 14 - East
of Shinnecock Inlet
n° Red - tailed Hawk - May i5
✓ Noyac
Walter Terry
of Patchogue:
Banded a Blue Grosbeak May 13
Paul Stoutenburgh
reports:
Orchard Oriole - May 16