Christmas Fern

One can't wander in the Pocahontas woods in this season without noticing the dark green of Christmas fern fronds contrasting with the browns of the fallen leaves.  Somehow the fronds manage to avoid being buried as all those leaves drift down.  A patch of ferns such as this one is pleasing to the eye.  And it will continue to be attractive through December, thus its common name.

I found some interesting facts about Christmas fern here, and I quote from that site: "Christmas fern may grow in large, extensive colonial masses but more typically is found in clusters of two or three individuals. Growing ferns and the accumulated detritus of past sterile fronds form a dense covering mass over the soil surface. This mass helps to stabilize the underlying soil and prevent or lessen erosion. It also generates a protective, concealing habitat for a number of ground feeding and ground nesting bird species. Because of their complex chemical composition, ferns are eaten by very few browsers or grazers."


--Ben

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