brittle bladderfern
ExplorePlants
brittle bladderfern
Cystopteris fragilis
The brittle bladderfern is a lovely green plant that likes to grow in shady places. Its delicate leaves look like tiny fans and can be found in forests and along streams.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The brittle bladderfern has delicate, bright green, lacy fronds that are twice or thrice pinnate. Its triangular blades attach to slender, dark, brittle stems, giving it an airy appearance distinct from many other woodland ferns.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyCystopteridaceaeGenusCystopteris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's one of the fastest-growing ferns, quickly popping up new green fronds!
Look closely: it makes tiny, dust-like spores instead of seeds to grow!
This fern can grow in super cold places, even way up high in mountains!
Wow! Its name 'fragilis' means fragile because its leaf stalks break easily!
Special abilities
Ability
Fast Frond Former
Brittle bladderfern can quickly regrow new fronds from its underground rhizome after damage or cold weather, aiding survival.
Ability
Spore Sprinkler
This fern produces vast numbers of tiny spores that are carried by wind, helping it spread widely without needing seeds or flowers.
Ability
Rocky Resider
It can anchor itself in small rock crevices and thrive in poor soil, helping it colonize places other plants can't.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-40 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eats
Spanish Slug
Arion vulgaris
Slugs often graze on its delicate fronds.
eats
Grove Snail
Cepaea nemoralis
Snails can feed on young fern growth.
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer may occasionally browse fern fronds.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is brittle bladderfern?
10-40 cm
How wide does brittle bladderfern spread?
15-30 cm
Is brittle bladderfern edible?
Yes
Is brittle bladderfern toxic?
None
What is brittle bladderfern's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is brittle bladderfern usually found?
Forests
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