Glade Fern (Homalosorus pycnocarpos)

Life history

Species overview

Glade Fern (Homalosorus pycnocarpos), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in very rich, mesic deciduous forests, often with dolomite near the surface. This species can be identified year-round.

Synonyms: Asplenium angustifolium, Asplenium pycnocarpon, Athyrium angustifolium, A. pycnocarpon, Diplazium pycnocarpon

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: Pinnae simple, shallowly crenate to entire, the veins 1-forked just above the base and the branches themselves forked above their base; stipes sparsely hairy to glabrous; sori linear, straight, at a 60-degree angle to the main veins.
• Flower characteristics:
• Fruit characteristics: Sori elongate, several times longer than wide, nearly straight, not recurved, at ca. a 60-degree angle to the costae (main veins); indusia translucent, brownish, entire.
• Leaf characteristics: Oblong-lanceolate, 35 to 75 cm long, 13 to 25 cm wide, acute at the base, widest above the base, acute-acuminate at the apex, pinnate; pinnae linear, truncate at the base, shallowly crenate to entire, acuminate at the apex, the veins forked at or near the base and 0 to 2 branches again forked above the base.

Phenology

• Blooming phenology:
• Fruiting phenology: late summer
• Optimum time to identify: This species can be identified year-round

Other

• Growth form: Fern
• Vegetative reproduction: Rhizomatous
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Comments: Associated Species: Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, Athyrium thelypterioides, Dryopteris goldiana, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Quercus rubra, Adiantum pedatum.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Glade Fern (Homalosorus pycnocarpos). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Habitats and landscapes

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

General habitat information

• Habitat description: Found in very rich, mesic deciduous forests, often with dolomite near the surface.
• Soils: Rich, mesic, sometimes calcareous soils.

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Glade Fern. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Glade Fern. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.
• Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.
• Maintain high forest canopy cover; this species requires shaded habitat conditions.

Other resources

Links to additional Glade Fern information

Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)

• Wisconsin Flora
• NatureServe Explorer
• Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
• USDA - NRCS Plants Database
• USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use