Blechnum spicant – deer fern
Common Name
deer fern
Alternate Common Names
- hard-fern
Family
Blechnaceae
Scientific Name
Blechnum spicant
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
- Medium (M)
- Wet (W)
Soil Nutrient Regime (SNR)
- Poor (P)
Video link
Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Manual © 1973. Reprinted with permission of the University of Washington Press.
General / Habitat
- Evergreen
- Medium-sized fern
- Grows in moist forests from low to high elevations.
Key Identifying Characteristics
- Form: tufted cluster of fronds
- Leaves: 2 kinds of leaves -
- Sori: continuous and distributed near leaflet margin
Lookalikes
- Polystichum munitum
- has leaflets that attach to the leaf axis on short stalks, whereas deer fern attaches along the whole base of leaflet
Interesting Characteristics
- important winter food for deer and elk
Co-occurring Species
- often grows under alder
External References
Sources
Douglas, G.W. et al (Editors). 1998-2002. Illustrated Flora of British Columbia, Volumes 1 to 8. B.C. Min. Environ., Lands and Parks, and B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon. 2014. Plants of Coastal British Columbia Including Washington, Oregon & Alaska. B.C. Ministry of Forestry and Lone Pine Publishing. Vancouver, B.C.