American Fern Society facts for kids
The American Fern Society is a group for people who love ferns! It was started in 1893 and now has over 1,000 members all around the world. These members are often part of smaller local groups, called chapters. A very famous member, who is no longer alive, was Oliver Sacks. He joined the society in 1993.
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How the Society Started
The American Fern Society was founded by a person named Willard N. Clute. He first created it as a smaller group called the Linnaean Fern Chapter. This chapter was part of a larger organization called the Agassiz Association.
The Linnaean Fern Chapter held two big meetings, one in 1898 and another in 1900. Members in different areas shared information by sending reports to each other through the mail. In 1905, the members of the Linnaean Fern Chapter decided to form their own independent group. This is how the American Fern Society officially began!
What the Society Does
The American Fern Society helps people learn more about ferns in many ways:
Publications
The society publishes different materials to share knowledge about ferns:
- American Fern Journal: This is a science magazine about plants. The society has published it since 1910.
- The Fern Bulletin: Before the American Fern Journal, the society published this magazine from 1892 to 1912. It was first called "The Linnaean Fern Bulletin."
- The Fiddlehead Forum: This is a newsletter for members. It has been published since 1974.
- Pteridologia: Since 1979, the society has also published special books about ferns under this name.
Spore Exchange
The society runs a special program called a spore exchange. Ferns reproduce using tiny spores, not seeds. Through this program, members can order fern spores from many different types of ferns. They can then try to grow these ferns themselves!
Field Trips and Forums
The American Fern Society also organizes trips to places where ferns grow naturally. These trips help members see different ferns in their natural homes. They also have an online forum where members can talk to each other and share information. Famous author Oliver Sacks wrote about one of these field trips in his 2002 book, Oaxaca Journal.
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