Fern sports are plants that show marked change from the normal type or parent stock as a result of mutation. The term
Morphotype is also used for any of a group of different types of individuals of the same species in a population. Fern
in sports are typically altered in several ways, such as the frond apex divided and
Pinnate similarly duplicated.
[ Plants Sports Retrieved : 2011-07-22]
Occurrence
Soft Shield Fern
Polystichum setiferum, Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina[ Lady Fern sports Retrieved : 2011-07-23] and Hart's Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium are known to have around three hundred varieties or sports.
[ Peter D. A. Boyd's Pteridomania Retrieved : 2011-07-22] Scaly Male Fern Dryopteris affinis and Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas have a number of commercially available and naturally occurring sports or subspecies. Examples are
D. affinis polydactyla Dadds,
A. filix-femina plumosum,
A. filix-femina corymbiferum, and
D. filix-mas Barnesii [ Hardy Ferns Retrieved : 2011-07-23]
- Lady Fern ( Athyrium filix-femina)
Characteristics
The frond of a sport may be branched at the tip and at the tips of the pinna, the colour may vary, and variegation may occur; fronds generally remain bilaterally symmetrical. Ferns sports remain normal in certain respects, such as viability with Sorus and Indusium appearing normal. The frond stipe may be a different colour.[ Male Fern Retrieved : 2011-07-23]
- Hart's Tongue fern ( Asplenium scolopendrium)
Rarity
Ferns sports particularly suffered during the Victorian era Pteridomania ('Fern-Fever') Social mania, when over collecting of fern species included over collecting unusual fern varieties.
See also
- Notes
- Sources
-
Redfern, Margaret & Shirley, Peter (2002). British Plant Galls. Identification of galls on plants & fungi. AIDGAP. Shrewsbury : Field Studies Council. .
External links
