Fern sports
File:Sport - Hartstongue Fern.jpg
Fern sports are plants that show marked change from the normal type or parent stock as a result of mutation. The term Morphotype is also used for any of a group of different types of individuals of the same species in a population. Fern fronds in sports are typically altered in several ways, such as the frond apex divided and pinnae similarly duplicated.[http://www.gardenseeker.com/roses/rose-plant-sports.htm Plants Sports] Retrieved : 2011-07-22
Occurrence
Soft Shield Fern Polystichum setiferum, Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina[http://www.fibrex.co.uk/hardy-british-ferns/athyrium-2/ Lady Fern sports] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524033759/http://www.fibrex.co.uk/hardy-british-ferns/athyrium-2/ |date=2011-05-24 }} Retrieved : 2011-07-23 and Hart's Tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium are known to have around three hundred varieties or sports.[http://www.peterboyd.com/pteridomania.htm Peter D. A. Boyd's Pteridomania] Retrieved : 2011-07-22 Scaly Male Fern Dryopteris affinis and Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas have a number of commercially available and naturally occurring sports or subspecies. Examples are D. affinis polydactyla Dadds, A. filix-femina plumosum, A. filix-femina corymbiferum, and D. filix-mas Barnesii [http://www.hardyferns.com/dbase.asp Hardy Ferns] Retrieved : 2011-07-23
;Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
File:Lady Fern frond - normal appearance.jpg|Normal Lady Fern frond appearance.
File:Sport - Lady Fern frond tip.jpg|Lady Fern sport.
File:Sport - Lady Fern pinna.jpg|Lady Fern pinna showing abnormal tips.
File:Lady fern sport - underside of frond.jpg|Lady Fern sport showing lower surface with normal sori.
File:Chirosia betuleti, Knotting Gall on the fern Dryopteris dilatata.jpg|A Knotting gall on Broad buckler fern.
Characteristics
The frond of a sport may be branched at the tip and at the tips of the pinna, the colour may vary, and variegation may occur; fronds generally remain bilaterally symmetrical. Ferns sports remain normal in certain respects, such as viability with sori and indusia appearing normal. The frond stipe may be a different colour.[http://www.ferns.rogergolding.co.uk/ferngenus/athyrium/filixfemina.html Male Fern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328030548/http://www.ferns.rogergolding.co.uk/ferngenus/athyrium/filixfemina.html |date=2012-03-28 }} Retrieved : 2011-07-23
;Hart's Tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)
File:Hartstongue - Normal frond and tip.jpg|Normal frond.
File:Hartstongue - sori.jpg|Underside of fern sport showing normal sori and indusia.
File:Sport - multiply branched Hartstongue.jpg|Hart's Tongue sport with multiple frond-tip branches.
;Misidentification
File:Fern sports - insect damage.jpg
Galls on ferns and other physical damage to fern fronds can be mistaken as sports, however this is usually asymmetric, ferns generally being bilaterally symmetrical. In Athyrium and Dryopteris species white maggots of Chirosia betuleti create mop-head galls on fern frond tips that look somewhat like fern sports, however this is physical damage and not a growth form.Redfern, Page 288
Rarity
Ferns sports particularly suffered during the Victorian-era Pteridomania ('Fern-Fever') craze, when over collecting of fern species included over collecting unusual fern varieties.
See also
References
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Sources
- Redfern, Margaret & Shirley, Peter (2002). British Plant Galls. Identification of galls on plants & fungi. AIDGAP. Shrewsbury : Field Studies Council. {{ISBN|1-85153-214-5}}.
External links
- [http://mygarden.uphero.com/ferns05.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208053029/http://mygarden.uphero.com/ferns05.htm |date=2010-12-08 }} Ferns sports
{{Commons category|Fern sports}}