Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum)

August 13^th. I was wandering along the trail on the ledge above our creek photographing fungi. I sat down by a fallen branch to photograph some brackets. I was concentrating so intently that I almost missed the…

fern that blended in with the greenery around it.

The leaves told me it was the Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum).

Closer views of the sporangia (spore packets). 

These ferns have a single sterile frond and a single fertile frond that bears the sporangia (spore packets). The sterile frond is divided into three segments on each side of the stem; the margins of the segments are serrulate. 

The fronds are joined at the base, sometimes below ground level, and sometimes just above ground level.

In this case, they were joined just above ground level.

On September 6^th, the sporangia were ripening and becoming brown in color. Hopefully, we may have more ferns grow in this area.

References: 

- Georgia Native Plant Society. Southern grape fern (Botrychium biternatum) 

- Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas & Georgia: Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum) 

Sparselobe or Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum)

November 17th, 2014. I spotted these as I was riding out one morning and didn’t want to stop; I’m usually tired when I come back and forget about things close to home. The fertile fronds on which the sporangia - that resemble a cluster of grapes – were still green. By the time I remembered them again, the sporangia had ripened to a yellowish color. 

I counted about 8 to 10 plants in a small area along the embankment and at the bottom of the drainage area. They had been hidden in the grass and only exposed when the county mowers made their Fall pass along the road. 

There were 8 plants in this field. You might be able to spot one of the larger fertile fronds at the right edge of the large shadow just right of center. Another plant is located just right and just a little higher up the slope.

One of the larger plants. 

A closer view of a fertile frond.

A couple of smaller plants with well-developed fertile fronds.

I’ve seen this species most frequently in wooded areas where they were shaded with some sun exposure. I was surprised and pleased to find these plants in such an exposed area although they were shaded from full exposure to the sun by the grass growing around them.

Walk To The Old Fort: Part 3. Old Fort - Fishing Area

The Old Fort. The trail entered the clearing from the woods to the left of the fort.
I stopped by the Old Fort yesterday to get a photo and remembered why I didn’t have a good one. The fort now sits against the wood at the south side of the clearing. It‘s in the shade of the woods most of the time. Yesterday, someone had lit a fire to heat and dry the interior of the fort.

I turned around at the edge of the woods and started back towards the Fishing Area. The path is relatively wide and well-worn and easy going.

I found a Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum) – just one plant – just off north side of the path.

And then I spotted Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor) leaves.I was really interested in seeing if I could find Cranefly Orchid leaves. This area would get its best light in the morning but is heavily wooded and would stay moister and more shaded in the summer than other areas in the park. Once I found this patch, I began to see them everywhere along the west side of this path. There were few on the eastern slope below the path.

Most of the leaves were among the fallen leaves but I found one small patch of Cranefly Orchid leaves at the base of a tree. This will be a pretty location when they bloom.

The trail continued to wind its way gently though the woods.

Until I was back at the Fishing Area bridge. To be continued…
Click on an image to view a larger image.

Resources:
- Southern (Sparselobe) Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum)
- Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor)

Related post:
- Marburg Creek Reservoir: Fort Yargo State Park