Ferns in Shade
by Rebecca Carr
Title
Ferns in Shade
Artist
Rebecca Carr
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
I found these lovely fern plants in my own Florida backyard near my neighbor's fence. I liked how the vertical rails of the fence echo the vertical lines of the fern. This area is ideal for ferns to grow due to partial shade and moist, well drained soil. This particular fern grows widely across Florida and is known as ebony stem (or brown stem) spleenwort. The name is derived from the color of the main stem of mature fronds and from previous beliefs that the fern could heal the spleen. This photograph was taken during the late afternoon, when this particular group of fern plants get their only sunlight of the day. This fern, known scientifically as Asplenium platyneuron, is drought hardy and has fronds that range through different shades of green even on the same plant. They grow in clumps with thin, black roots connected to an underground rhizome that allows the plant to survive inclement weather and send up fresh fronds when suitable warmth returns. This fern has infertile, shorter fronds of up to six inches in length and longer fertile fronds carrying reproductive spores that can reach two feet in height. Ebony spleenwort grows in North America as far north as Ontario and throughout more southern climates, including Mexico and South Africa. Wherever these fern plants grow, they thrive, spreading easily as a groundcover in lush stands of many fronds. Their abundant growth habit make them an ideal choice for a shady corner of the home garden.
Uploaded
June 1st, 2019
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