Leather Grapefern, Leather Grape-fern, Leathery Grapefern
Sceptridium multifidum
Synonyms: Botrychium californicum, Botrychium coulteri, Botrychium multifidum, Botrychium multifidum ssp. silaifolium, Botrychium silaifolium, Osmunda multifida
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The photo at left shows a close-up of the broad leaf of leathery grapefern as seen along the trail to Willard Springs in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge..........April 13, 2007. The photo at right shows leathery grapefern as seen near Willard Springs, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge..........May 15, 2021.
The photo above shows the sporophore or fertile frond of leathery grapefern which consists of a panicle of sporangia which will release spores when mature. Photographed at Willard Springs in Conboy Lake NWR.........August 17, 2007.
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Leathery grapeferns were numerous, here seen growing with broadpetal strawberry (Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca) in the drier grassy meadows around the northern edge of Muddy Meadows, Mt. Adams Wilderness......July 13, 2018.
The photo above shows the sporophore or fertile frond of leathery grapefern as well as the sterile frond laying upon the ground. Photographed at Willard Springs in Conboy Lake NWR.........August 17, 2007.
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Several photos of leather grapefern as seen on grassy, dry soils at a slightly higher elevation than the
vernally moist meadows at the trailhead for the Muddy Meadows Trail #13 on the
northern slopes of Mt. Adams. The fertile part of the leaf blade is shown with
the evident, grape-like sporangia which gives this genus its name of "grapefern".
No sterile blade was noticed. The fertile blade itself is about 10 cm
long.
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Leathery grapefern as seen at left along the Willard Springs Trail, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........September 17, 2017.
Leathery grapefern as seenat right along the Willard Springs Trail, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........May 16, 2022.
Paul Slichter