Cystopteris fragilis : Fragile fern

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Polypodopsida (fern class)

Family: Aspidiaceae (Fern Family)

Genera: Cystopteris (Bladder Ferns) (Gk. kistis = bladder or sac + pteris = a fern, referring to sac-like inducium)

Species: fragilis (Lat. fragilis= fragile, referring to brittle leaf stalks)

Synonym(s): Filix fragilis

English Name(s):

Fragile fern, Brittle Bladderfern, Brittle Fern

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Fronds 10-35cm long tufted from short rhizome (underground stem).

Leaves:

• Pinnate to bipinnate to lobed.

Reproductive Parts:

• Indusium (sorus cover) present attached at one side, arching over sori (sporangia clusters) and withering in maturity.
• Sori (sporangia clusters) rounded occuring on underside of leaves.

Seed:

• Spores with prickles or spines

Not to Be Confused With:

• Woodsia glabella or W.alpina can be distinguished from C.fragilis by thier thread-like rather than hood-like indusium.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Deciduous from rhizome.
• Producing spores by mid-July.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Damp rocky places, sheltered crevices, and talus slopes.

Modern:

Industrial:

• Plants are popular in gardens and terrariums.

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Cherokee made a compound infusion as a cure for chills.
• Navaho made a tea used as a wash lotion for healing injuries.
• The tea was taken to relieve stomach disorders by the Ojibwa.

Food: