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FERN GLOSSARY
ACROSCOPIC
Those segments of the blade on the upper side of the pinna rachis, facing the apex of the frond
 
ADNATE:
Fused, usually laterally, to an unlike structure, as blade to rachis
 
APOGAMY:
The formation of a sporophyte from a gametophyte by asexual means such as budding, rather than by egg formation; also refereed to as apomitic although this term covers a broader meaning.
 
ARISTATE:
Tapering to a narrow elongate apex or spike.
 
AURICULATE:
Bearing one or two auricles
 
AURICLE:
A low, basal lobe
 
BASISCOPIC
Those segments on the lower side of the pinnae rachis, facing the base of the frond.
 
BIPINNATE
Pinnae divided two times
 
BLADE
The expanded leafy portion of a frond not including the stipe.
 
BUBIL
An asexual bud occurring on the main or secondary rachis capable of forming a new plant before or after being detached from the parent.
 
CAUDATE:
Bearing a narrow, elongate tail
 
CAUDEX
The central crown or upright rhizome of a fern.
 
CONGESTED
Rachis shortened so that the pinnules overlap like shingles on a roof; associated with dwarf forms. See IMBRICATE
 
CONNATE
Fused, usually laterally, to a similar structure, as one pinna to another
 
CRISPED
Having the margins waved or curled.
 
CRISTATE
When the pinnae or pinnules are divided into one or more terminal divisions from the normal form.
 
CREEPING
Extending horizontally in or on the soil
 
CRENATE
Shallowly scalloped, with rounded teeth
 
CROZIER
Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead.
 
CUSPIDATE
Rather abruptly constricted at the apex to a narrow, sharp-pointed tip
 
DELTATE
Broadly triangular with an obtuse apex
 
DEPAUPERATE:
Having missing or defective parts; as in the linearis section
 
DIMORPHIC:
Having two distinct shapes; in ferns this usually refers to sterile versus fertile blades or portions of blades.
 
ELLIPTIC:
Having the outline of an elongate circle
 
ELONGATE:
Much longer than wide
 
FALCATE:
Sickle-shaped; curved and flat.
 
FARINA:
A white, yellow, or other colored , waxy appearing exudates of glands; in ferns especially in the desert or xeric ferns.
 
FERTILE:
Having sporangia and producing viable spores.
 
FIDDLEHEAD:
Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead.
 
FIMBRIATE:
fringed; dissected into fine segments.
 
FROND:
A fern leaf including the stipe and the blade.
 
GRANDICEPS:
Having a much divided terminal crest; capitate.
 
IMBRICATE:
Rachis shortened so that the pinnules nearly overlap one another; associated with dwarf forms
 
LACERATE:
Deeply and irregularly cleft on the margin
 
LANCEOLATE:
Shaped like a lance or spear-head, as of leaves tapering at both ends, much longer than broad, and wider below the middle.
 
LOBE:
A portion of a balde, pinna, or pinnule, or segement, that is fully connate and with a shallow sinus on either side that extends no more thanhalf way from the lobe apex to the axis that the lobe is attached to
 
MARGINATE:
Having a margin with a distinctive fringed or cut character.
 
PERCRISTATE:
All tips crested including the pinnules; crests on crests.
 
PINNA (Pl. PINNAE):
Primary division of a compound blade.
 
PINNATE:
Divided simply with the pinnae arranged on either side of the rachis.
 
PINNATIFID:
Divided into lobes, with the clefts reaching halfway or more but not completely to the supporting rachis.
 
PINNULE:
A division of a pinna; ultimate segment.
 
RACHIS:
Midrib of a blade; continuation of the stipe through the blade.
 
RHIZOME:
A dorsiventral stem of a root-like appearance which produces fronds above and roots below; usually creeping although in some ferns it forms a clump holding the fronds close together, and in others it is short, thick and upright; a caudex, producing a tufted appearance.
 
SCALE:
A membranous chaffy hair found on the rhizome, stipe and occasionally on the blade surface.
 
SERRATE:
Toothed; having margins notched like a saw.
 
SETOSE:
Having bristly straight hairs
 
SORUS (Pl. SORI):
Arrangement or cluster of spore cases.
 
SPORANGIUM:
A small stalked capsule in which spores grow; the spore case.
 
SPORE:
A minute asexual body.
 
STIPE:
Leaf stalk of a fern excluding the leafy portion.
 
TRIPINNATE:
Pinnae divided three times
 
VEIN:
A strand of vascular tissue in a frond or part of a frond that conducts water and nutrients and strengthens the structure.