Polystichum lonchitis : Holly Fern

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Polypodopsida (fern class)

Family: Aspidiaceae (Fern Family)

Genera: Polystichum (Holy Ferns)

Species: lonchitis

Synonym(s): Aspidium lonchitis,

English Name(s):

Holly Fern, Mountain Holly Fern, Northern Holly fern

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Fronds 10-60cm long, arising from short stout chaffy rhozomes.

Leaves:

• Leaf blades rich green, thick, leathery-textured, linear to linear oblanceolate.
• Margins serrate.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inducium, large, peltate (circular) attached in middle.
• Sori round in 2 rows, occuring midway between midvien and margin.

Seed:

Not to Be Confused With:

• Only pinnate fern in our area with serrate leaf margins and peltate indusium.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Evergreen fronds.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Calcareous soil, rocky slopes and talus slopes.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: