Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Moist woodland

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Status

Uncommon

About

This fern grows in moist soil or on rocks across the southeastern United States. Its leaves release microscopic spores that can travel hundreds of miles on the wind.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Polypodiopsida

Order

Polypodiales

Family

Thelypteridaceae

Genus

Pelazoneuron

Species

Pelazoneuron kunthii