Mountain bladderfern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain bladderfern |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cystopteris
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| Species: |
montana
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Cystopteris montana, also known as the mountain bladderfern, is a type of fern. It used to be called Athyrium montanum. This fern grows in cool, northern parts of the world. You can find it in places like Europe, Asia, Greenland, Alaska, and all across Canada. It also grows in higher, cooler areas of Colorado in the United States.
Mountain Bladderfern
What the Mountain Bladderfern Looks Like
This fern has a stem that creeps along the ground. It's like a cord and has small scales on it. Its leaves can grow up to 45 centimeters (about 18 inches) long.
The leaf has a stalk called a petiole. This stalk is dark at the bottom and lighter at the top. The stalk is actually longer than the green part of the leaf, which is called the blade. The blade has a unique pentagonal shape. It is divided into many smaller leaflets. These leaflets are then split even further into tiny, lobed, and toothed parts.
On the underside of the leaves, you'll find small clusters of spores called sori. These sori are covered by a hairy, whitish, cup-shaped cover called an indusium. This cover helps protect the developing spores.
Where the Mountain Bladderfern Lives
This fern loves to grow in moist mountain areas. You can often find it in forests, especially near streams or other wet spots. It prefers cool, damp places to thrive.
