Polystichum munitum 0
Author: (Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss (1786-1830)) Carl Borivoj Presl (1794-1852)Family: Polypodiaceae Subfamily: Dryopteridoideae
Genus: Polystichum
English name: American sword fern
Zone: California
Description
The epithet of this species means ‘armed’, in reference to the pinnae which evoke swords. This fern has indeed a tough and archaic appearance. It is found along the northwest coast of the United States, it is associated there with forests of various conifers where it thrives on a very acid humus.
It forms tufts provided with thick, leathery and persistent fronds, once divided into fine, long and denticulate pinnae. The fronds can measure up to 1.5m. It is above all a fern of oceanic climates with mild seasons.
It is however a very resistant taxon, surviving in full shade as in full sun and able to withstand dry summers. Very tolerant but it will prefer a mild climate, in the shade on acidic, humid humus to express itself fully.
References
- Encyclopedia of garden ferns, Sue Olsen. 2007 pag. 335-337. ISBN
- Environmental and evolutionary influences of light on fern leaf morphology in California, Lindsey P. Agnew. 2016. Address
Polystichum munitum Observed in United States of America by John Brew (license)
References for the genus
- eFloras. eFloras.org Vol. 2 pag. 126461. Polystichum
- Encyclopedia of garden ferns, Sue Olsen. 2007 pag. 322-358. ISBN
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 1 pag. 144-147. ISBN
- Flora of Madeira, J R Press & M J Short. Pelagic Publishing 2016 pag. 49. ISBN
- Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, P.H. Davies. 1984 Vol. 1 pag. 56-57. ISBN
- The lycopods and ferns of the Drakensberg and Lesotho, J.P Roux & G.Cooper-Driver. 2016 pag. 315-329. ISBN
- Encyclopedia of garden ferns, Sue Olsen. 2007 pag. 322-358. ISBN
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 1 pag. 144-147. ISBN
- Flora of Madeira, J R Press & M J Short. Pelagic Publishing 2016 pag. 49. ISBN
- Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, P.H. Davies. 1984 Vol. 1 pag. 56-57. ISBN
- The lycopods and ferns of the Drakensberg and Lesotho, J.P Roux & G.Cooper-Driver. 2016 pag. 315-329. ISBN
General specifications
Biological type: fern
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 2,6ft x 3,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 3,5ft
Sun exposure: shadow (Sun hours: <3h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: average
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+20%Peet+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a day pH 5.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Ferns; container, C1 container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 1000-2000mm
Gravelly soil: much
Member of the following Vegetation Map-units
Groupe : G198 Californian Conifer Forest & Woodland.
Groupe : G235 Coastal Redwood Forest.
Groupe : G237 Coastal Red Alder - Bigleaf Maple - Douglas-fir Rainforest.
Groupe : G240 Coastal Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock Rainforest. MAP 900mm-2540mm Alt 0m-1067m
Groupe : G241 Coastal Silver Fir - Western Hemlock Rainforest.
Groupe : G243 Sierra-Cascade Cold-Dry Subalpine Woodland. Alt 1800m-2450m
Groupe : G750 Coastal Alaskan Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Rainforest.
Groupe : G751 Coastal Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Rainforest.
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 2,6ft x 3,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 3,5ft
Sun exposure: shadow (Sun hours: <3h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: average
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+20%Peet+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a day pH 5.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Ferns; container, C1 container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 1000-2000mm
Gravelly soil: much
Member of the following Vegetation Map-units
Groupe : G198 Californian Conifer Forest & Woodland.
Groupe : G235 Coastal Redwood Forest.
Groupe : G237 Coastal Red Alder - Bigleaf Maple - Douglas-fir Rainforest.
Groupe : G240 Coastal Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock Rainforest. MAP 900mm-2540mm Alt 0m-1067m
Groupe : G241 Coastal Silver Fir - Western Hemlock Rainforest.
Groupe : G243 Sierra-Cascade Cold-Dry Subalpine Woodland. Alt 1800m-2450m
Groupe : G750 Coastal Alaskan Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Rainforest.
Groupe : G751 Coastal Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Rainforest.
Sowing instructions
SPRING Sow in an airtight container. The tray and the sterilized substrate. No direct sunlight on the substrate.
The average seed weight is 100000,0 per gram (0,00001g).
The average seed weight is 100000,0 per gram (0,00001g).
This plant is available from the following nurseries
Experiences in the garden
31-03-17A Obtaining 25 plants from nursery Lepage (Cultivated from unknown origin)
03-05-21 4x Dead plant because of heat and drought in summer: Serre1 C1.
04-06-18 21x Plant planted too close to a path: JTFerns.