Tufted lacefern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tufted lacefern |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aspidotis
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| Species: |
carlotta-halliae
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| Synonyms | |
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Cheilanthes carlotta-halliae |
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The Carlotta Hall's lace fern, also called the tufted lacefern, is a special kind of fern. Its scientific name is Aspidotis carlotta-halliae. This fern is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows only in California, especially in the Central Coast Ranges and along the coast. You can often find it growing in unique serpentine soils.
This fern is a natural hybrid, meaning it formed when two other fern species, Aspidotis californica and Aspidotis densa, mixed their genes. It was named after Carlotta Case Hall, a person who loved collecting ferns. She also helped write a book about plants called A Yosemite Flora in 1912.
What Does This Fern Look Like?
This fern looks like a mix of its two parent ferns. It has tough, triangular leaves. These leaves are divided into many smaller parts called leaflets. Each leaflet is then split into even tinier pieces with rough, uneven edges. The stem, called a stipe, is very thin and dark.
If you look at the underside of the fern's leaf segments, you'll see lines of small clusters called sori. These sori hold the sporangia, which are like tiny cases filled with spores. Spores are how ferns reproduce.
This fern grows at different heights, from about 90 meters (295 feet) to 1,330 meters (4,364 feet) above sea level. It often likes to grow under rocks, where it can find some shade and moisture.
