Cystopteris fragilis
{{Short description|Species of fern}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Cystopteris fragilis 3.jpg
| image_caption = Sori
| status = {{TNCStatus}}
| status_system = TNC
| genus = Cystopteris
| species = fragilis
| synonyms = Filix fragilis (L.) Underw.
}}
Cystopteris fragilis is a species of perennial fern known by the common names brittle bladder-fern{{BSBI 2007|accessdate=2014-10-17}} and common fragile fern. It can be found worldwide, generally in shady, moist areas.
Description
It has a short, black rootstock. The leaves are up to 5-25 cm and are borne on fleshy petioles with few or no long hairs. The petioles are about half the length of the leaf blade. Each leaf is divided into many pairs of leaflets, each of which is subdivided into lobed segments. The leaflets are narrowly triangular and apiculate. The underside of the leaf has many rounded sori containing the sporangia. A young Cystopteris fragilis is said to have the scent of bitter almond, which is caused by spores that contain hydrogen cyanide.{{cite book |last1=Piirainen |first1=Mikko |title=Kotimaan luonnonkasvit |last2=Piirainen |first2=Pirkko |last3=Vainio |first3=Hannele |date=1999 |publisher=WSOY |isbn=951-0-23001-4 |location=Porvoo, Finland |page=36 |language=fi |trans-title=Native wild plants}}
Habitat
The plant, native to for example Finland, grows in places fit for its brittle structure: usually shady and slightly moist areas, in the cracks and ledges of vertical rock faces, blockfields and sometimes on even cliff surfaces as well. It avoids the more most acidic and barren cliffs and prefers especially slightly lime rich soil.
Gallery
Image: Cystopteris fragilis iNat-154978453.1.jpg|Icicle Creek, WA
Image: Cystopteris fragilis iNat-154978453.2.jpg|Adaxial leaf
Image: Cystopteris fragilis iNat-154978453.3.jpg|Abaxial leaf
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?19,25,26 Jepson Manual Treatment: Cystopteris fragilis]
- [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CYFR2 USDA Plants Profile: Cystopteris fragilis]
- [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200003869 Flora of North America: Cystopteris fragilis]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Cystopteris+fragilis Cystopteris fragilis — U.C. Photo gallery]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q191532}}
Category:Ferns of the Americas
Category:Ferns of the United States
Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Category:Flora of South Georgia Island
Category:Biota of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Category:Plants described in 1805
{{Polypodiales-stub}}