In some species, maturity of the cone causes scales to open and free the winged seeds. Seed cones (female) are hard and woody, with tough scales that serve to protect the developing seeds until dispersal time comes. They have either two, three, or five needles per fascicle, which stay on the plant for anywhere from two to forty years, again depending on the species. In the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades, there are five native pine species, a few of which can also be found at fairly high elevations east of the Cascades summit. Each fascicle can have one to seven needles, depending on the species, and assist in identification. On adult pine trees, needle-like leaves are green and bundled in clusters called fascicles, unlike other conifers. In addition to the rich wildlife habitat, beauty, shade, fragrance, rain interception and carbon sequestration they provide, the majority of pines are drought tolerant, fire resistant and most can be extremely long-lived, with some species surviving 1,000+ years when undisturbed.Įvergreen and resinous, pines generally grow 50–150 ft tall, although some, like ponderosa pine, can grow over 200 feet (one in southern Oregon’s Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest towers to more than 268 feet tall!). Found across the Northern Hemisphere, Pinus is of ancient origin, having appeared around 180 million years ago. Well over one hundred species of pine help support our planet, which makes the genus Pinus the largest within the conifer phylum known as Pinophyta, the woody cone-bearing plants. In the Pacific Northwest, west of the Cascades, this lovely fern will do well in the company of others in the Western hemlock/Douglas-fir plant community, including western redcedar, vine maple, trillium, sword fern, deer fern, false solomon’s seal, stream violet, western meadowrue, goat’s beard, oxalis, piggy-back plant, foam flower, and many others. Space plants two to three feet apart, or intermingle them with other plants that have similar needs, allowing for a width of two to three feet. In hot areas, be sure to provide enough moisture, especially before and during excessively hot periods hot afternoon sun may scorch leaves. Maidenhair fern is easily grown in shaded, moist areas with soil that’s somewhat acidic, high in organic matter and drains well, so consider it in beds, borders and woodland gardens with dappled shade to full shade. ![]() Besides being important elements of habitat for native wildlife, they might be the best choice for shady, damp spaces that are difficult to fill. Maidenhair fern may even provide perching spots for little birds who have just left the safety of their nest and are figuring out what to do next!įerns, in general, deserve space in our landscapes. As winter approaches, the plant deteriorates, covers the soil and eventually adds nutrients following decomposition. Lively green foliage provides microhabitat, shelter and resting places for arthropods, amphibians, birds and other small creatures who frequent the forest floor and may in turn supply food for others. ![]() It can be found in southern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, as well as parts of California, the Rocky Mountains, and a few disjunct populations northeastern states and Canada. Also known as “five-finger fern”, the common name “maidenhair” may refer to either its glossy, dark, smooth stalks or the finely textured dark root hairs that grow from a short, stout rhizome.Ī highly textured perennial with an airy, delicate-looking structure and fine-textured deciduous foliage, Western maidenhair fern grows mainly at low to middle elevations in the shady understory of moist forests and ravines, along stream banks, in rock fissures near flowing water, and even on talus slopes. Although this fern was previously known as a subspecies of Adiantum pedatum, subtle morphologic differences led to its reclassification as a separate species in the early 1990s. ![]() The species name refers to the Aleut indigenous peoples of the Aleutian Islands. If you’re wondering about Adiantum aleuticum’s genus name, it comes from the Greek adiantos, meaning unwetted, in reference to its water repellent foliage.
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