Narrowleaf Grapefern

Description

A perennial fern that produces a pale green leaf (the trophophore), about 6-18 cm long including the stalk, and a larger, erect spore-bearing structure (the sporophore) with a single major axis. Both arise from a common, erect, subterranean stem and can be thought of as a single, highly modified fern frond. Spores mature mainly in late June and July.Linearleaf Moonwort is a small, perennial fern with a single pale green, above-ground frond which stands 6-18 cm tall. The frond is divided into two segments, one sterile and one fertile, which share a common stalk. The sterile segment is once-pinnate (with segments, or pinnae borne on each side of an elongated central axis) with 4-6 widely spaced pairs of pinnae which are linear shaped or sometimes bifid with linear lobes. The fertile segment is 1-2 times as long as the sterile segment and has a single major axis with short branches which bear grape-like sporangia which contain thousands of spores. Spores germinate underground and develop into minute, subterranean, non-photosynthetic gametophytes.