Mackay'S Fragile Fern

cystopteris tenuis

Mackay's Fragile Fern (Cystopteris tenuis) is a delicate and resilient perennial fern native to the rocky woodlands and cliffs of eastern North America. Named after the botanist A.H. Mackay, this species belongs to the fragile fern genus, characterized by its slender, easily broken stems and highly dissected, lace-like fronds. Unlike many other ferns that require deep, moist soils, this species thrives in crevices of rocky outcrops, cliffs, and talus slopes, where it anchors its short, creeping rhizomes. It is highly valued by native plant enthusiasts for its elegant appearance and ability to colonize challenging, shaded stone environments.

Lebensraum: Typically found in shaded rocky woods, moist cliffs, talus slopes, and limestone ledges.

Aussehen

This small-to-medium fern features delicate, light-green, bipinnate to pinnate-pinnatifid fronds that typically reach 10 to 40 centimeters in height. The fronds are lance-shaped and taper toward both ends, growing from a short, creeping rhizome. Its stem (stipe) is very slender, smooth, and fragile, showing a reddish-brown to straw-colored base. Underneath the pinnules, circular spore-producing structures called sori are partially covered by hood-like indusia, which shrivel and peel back as the spores mature in mid-to-late summer.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlassePolypodiopsidaOrdnungPolypodialesFamilieCystopteridaceaeGattungCystopteris

Mackay'S Fragile Fern

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

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Interessante Fakten

Despite its common name 'fragile fern', this plant is incredibly tough, often growing directly out of sheer rock walls where few other plants can survive.

Its species name 'tenuis' is Latin for 'thin' or 'slender', referring to the delicate, paper-thin texture of its leaflets.

Unlike many larger ferns, Mackay's Fragile Fern is known to go dormant and wither during dry midsummer heat waves, only to resurrect with fresh green fronds when autumn rains arrive.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Capable of anchoring its root-like rhizomes directly into narrow rock crevices and pockets of shallow soil on vertical cliff faces.

Can senesce (die back) during dry mid-summer spells and rapidly produce a fresh flush of new fronds when moisture returns in autumn.

Utilizes a specialized ring of cells (the annulus) on its sporangia that dries and snaps forward, forcefully launching microscopic spores into passing wind currents.

Maße und Details

Länge: 10-40 cm
Gewicht: 0.01-0.05 kg
Lebenserwartung: 5-15 Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

As a photosynthetic plant, Mackay's Fragile Fern synthesizes its own energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing key mineral nutrients through its roots.

Hauptnahrung

Sunlight
Water
Carbon Dioxide
Soil Minerals

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

parasite

Fern Rust Fungus

Hyalopsora polypodii

A specialized rust fungus that infects the fronds, utilizing the fern as a host to complete its lifecycle.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

An herbivorous mammal that occasionally grazes on the delicate fronds in rocky, forested areas, especially in early spring.

competitor

Anomodon Moss

Anomodon attenuatus

A shade-loving moss that often grows alongside this fern in moist rock crevices, competing for space and water.

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Mackay'S Fragile Fern?

Der einfachste Weg, Mackay'S Fragile Fern zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Mackay'S Fragile Fern?

10-40 cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Mackay'S Fragile Fern?

0.01-0.05 kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Mackay'S Fragile Fern?

5-15 Jahre

Was frisst Mackay'S Fragile Fern?

As a photosynthetic plant, Mackay's Fragile Fern synthesizes its own energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing key mineral nutrients through its roots.

Wo findet man Mackay'S Fragile Fern normalerweise?

Typically found in shaded rocky woods, moist cliffs, talus slopes, and limestone ledges.