[Ferns of Mt. Adams Country]

Deer Fern

Blechnum spicant

Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant

Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The photos of deer ferns on this page were all taken along forest road #23 at the trailhead for the Riley Trail #64 on the western slopes of Mt. Adams.................October 14, 2005. Note how the fertile fronds stand stiffly erect while the sterile fronds generally lie flat along the ground, forming a basal rosette.

Locations Where Deer Fern has been seen on Mt. Adams:

1. In a moist area at the trailhead for the Riley Trail #64.

2. In moist soils on the south side of access road 511 (about one-quarter mile from road #23).

3. In moist forest soils surrounding Swampy Meadows.


Fronds of Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The photo above shows the fertile frond of deer fern (at middle of photo) and two sizes of sterile fronds, which are widest near their middle and taper gradually to their opposite tips.

Dorsal leaflets surface of Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The dorsal surface of the leaflets of the sterile frond of deer frond.

Ventral leaflet surface of Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The lower surface of the leaflets of the sterile frond.

Ventral leaflet surface of a fertile frond of Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The lower surface of the long, narrow leaflets of the fertile frond of deer fern. Note the in-rolled margins to the leaflets as well as the twin, continuous bands of sori that run the length of the leaflet, one on each side of the midvein.

Dorsal surface of a fertile frond leaflet of Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The upper surface of the long, narrow leaflets of the fertile frond of deer fern.

Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant (Synonyms: Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum, Blechnum spicant var. pensylvanica, Struthiopteris spicant)

The photo above shows a nice rosette of deer fern as seen in moist coniferous forest at the eastern edge of Swampy Meadows on the western slopes of Mt. Adams. Photographed on August 11, 2008. Other plants visible in the photo include bunchberry (Cornus unalaschkensis) and five-leaved bramble (Rubus pedatus).

Paul Slichter