Deer fern • Blechnum spicant • Heiltsuk/Haíɫzaqv - k̓áláx
Top left: deer fern fronds in June on Calvert Island. Photo by Chanda Brietzke. Bottom left: sterile and fertile fronds at various stages of development. Photo by Chanda Brietzke. Bottom right: deer fern fiddlehead. Photo by Jennifer Elliot. Top right: unfurling fertile fronds. Photo by Kelly Fretwell.
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Identification
Deer fern is a relatively small fern, with fronds growing from 20-80 cm (8"-32") long. There are two types of fronds: fertile and sterile. The sterile fronds are evergreen, and have 35-70 pairs of leaflets that are fully attached to the stipe (stem) of the frond. These sterile fronds lay down, often pressed into the ground (see uppermost photo, above). The deciduous fertile fronds grow upright, and have much narrower leaflets than the sterile fronds. Deer fern fronds arise from a central location, though there may be numerous plants in a single area (lower left photo, above).
Habitat & Range
Deer fern is generally found in moist to wet forests, stream-banks, open deciduous forests, and clearings, from lowlands to middle or subalpine elevations. It can also be found in bogs. The species ranges throughout the world, and is common along BC's coast, north to Alaska and south to California. It does range inland, but only within BC, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, becoming less frequent further inland. It is found along the coasts of parts of Eurasia and north Africa as well.
Similar Species
Deer fern is distinguished from other fern species because its leaflets are attached to the stem along their entire margin. This contrasts with other species, such as sword fern (Polystichum munitum), where leaflets are attached to the main stem by small stems.
Human Uses
Some Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest had uses for this species. In particular, the Hesquiaht chewed the leaves as a hunger suppressant when hunting and travelling. Hesquiaht elders also observed deer rubbing their antler stubs on the plant after they shed their antlers. This lead the Hesquiaht to use the plant as a medicine for skin ailments.
Deer fern is also a horticultural plant in the UK, where it is known as hard fern, and received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It can be found in native plant gardens in the Pacific Northwest as well.
Intriguing Info
The name deer fern likely arises from the importance of the plant as winter browse for deer and elk throughout its range.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/774894-Struthiopteris-spicant
Deer fern is a relatively small fern, with fronds growing from 20-80 cm (8"-32") long. There are two types of fronds: fertile and sterile. The sterile fronds are evergreen, and have 35-70 pairs of leaflets that are fully attached to the stipe (stem) of the frond. These sterile fronds lay down, often pressed into the ground (see uppermost photo, above). The deciduous fertile fronds grow upright, and have much narrower leaflets than the sterile fronds. Deer fern fronds arise from a central location, though there may be numerous plants in a single area (lower left photo, above).
Habitat & Range
Deer fern is generally found in moist to wet forests, stream-banks, open deciduous forests, and clearings, from lowlands to middle or subalpine elevations. It can also be found in bogs. The species ranges throughout the world, and is common along BC's coast, north to Alaska and south to California. It does range inland, but only within BC, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, becoming less frequent further inland. It is found along the coasts of parts of Eurasia and north Africa as well.
Similar Species
Deer fern is distinguished from other fern species because its leaflets are attached to the stem along their entire margin. This contrasts with other species, such as sword fern (Polystichum munitum), where leaflets are attached to the main stem by small stems.
Human Uses
Some Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest had uses for this species. In particular, the Hesquiaht chewed the leaves as a hunger suppressant when hunting and travelling. Hesquiaht elders also observed deer rubbing their antler stubs on the plant after they shed their antlers. This lead the Hesquiaht to use the plant as a medicine for skin ailments.
Deer fern is also a horticultural plant in the UK, where it is known as hard fern, and received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It can be found in native plant gardens in the Pacific Northwest as well.
Intriguing Info
The name deer fern likely arises from the importance of the plant as winter browse for deer and elk throughout its range.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/774894-Struthiopteris-spicant
References
Blechnum spicant AGM. Royal Horticultural Society. Accessed 06/04/2013.Blechnum spicant (L.) Sm. deer fern. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed on 03/04/2013.
Deer fern (Blechnum spicant). Washington Native Plant Society. Accessed 06/04/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 420.
Authors and editors of page
Beatrice Proudfoot, Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2016).
Blechnum spicant AGM. Royal Horticultural Society. Accessed 06/04/2013.Blechnum spicant (L.) Sm. deer fern. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed on 03/04/2013.
Deer fern (Blechnum spicant). Washington Native Plant Society. Accessed 06/04/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 420.
Authors and editors of page
Beatrice Proudfoot, Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2016).