PUSHING THE BORDERS

If there is one group of plants that I have problems with id'ing it would have to be Ferns. not sure why, I do know what they all are but I always have to go looking , I can't just look at a Fern and say "Thats a such and such fern"

I was going to label up these pictures but thought it would be more entertaining to let you work them out! especially before they are properly leafed out!!

NB many are evergreens but we routinely cut the old leaves off each spring to tidy them up First two came from Madeira one native one not

DSC_0026 by charliepridham, on Flickr

DSC_0024 by charliepridham, on Flickr

DSC_0025 by charliepridham, on Flickr

The trunk on this British native is nearly 2' long now

DSC_0018 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Pacific NW america for this next one

DSC_0019 by charliepridham, on Flickr

From Japan

DSC_0020 by charliepridham, on Flickr

South American

DSC_0017 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Another British native

DSC_0016 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Japan

DSC_0015 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Should be by far the easiest to ID

DSC_0014 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Another easy one

DSC_0013 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Not in any order I see dryopteris filis mas, asplenium scolopendrium, athyrium nipponicum......polystichum something.......cyathea cooperii......cyrtomium......another athyrium/lady fern?....osmunda?.... adiantum? I'm just guessing now

Is one of those lophosoria? How about the woodwardia radicans, is that there?

No I forgot the Woodwardia (I have 2 species of those!)

flounder wrote:Not in any order I see dryopteris filis mas, asplenium scolopendrium, athyrium nipponicum......polystichum something.......cyathea cooperii......cyrtomium......another athyrium/lady fern?....osmunda?.... adiantum? I'm just guessing now

I can't see an Adiantum, but I do see the name changing Blechnum.

When it was clear it wasn't B.tabulare we knew it as B.chilense.

I think it is now Blechnum cordatum.

Is the Osmunda O.regalis 'Purpurascens'?

Is the second picture another Alsophila cooperi?

And do you have Lophosoria quadripinnata? How big does it get with you?

Chad

So, going by the name changes....can we have alsophila AND cyathea? Asking for a friend :D

flounder wrote:So, going by the name changes....can we have alsophila AND cyathea? Asking for a friend :D

And Sphaeropteris !

I've mucked up the Cyathea new names!

Cyathea cooperi went to Sphaeropteris cooperi.

RHS is still using Cyathea for all of them.

Kew have split them up.

I'm just confused!

Chad

Fern names are a mess. Blechnum chilense, which Kew call Blechnum cordatum, is Parablechnum cordatum on most fern-centric sites. As far as I remember under that scheme the genus Blechnum now only has a handful of species left in it, few of which anyone grows. :lol:

I grow a few ferns here but I am too dry for most - I artificially irrigate some bits of the garden and have some there but they don't really thrive. Wish I could grow more as I love them. I do OK with the xeric species like Cheilanthes (which has been split as well but I haven't got my head around those), Notholaena, Astrolepis, Pellaea, Asplenium ceterach (a personal favourite), A. trichomanes, various Polypodiums.

Parablechnum cordatum appears to be hugely variable.

Any one fancy a trip to Bolivia to introduce a form that is clearly worthy of cultivation?

Chad

Lophosoria quadripinnata has a distinctive unrolling.



This Sphaeropteris cooperi was defoliated in The Beast From the East, and then got roasted when I forgot to open the tunnel doors one morning last year.

It isn't dead, but has a tiny 'head' for the size of trunk.

I have a self sown replacement ready to replace it if it gives up.

Chad