Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
Esmerelda Basin
Teanaway, Kittitas Co. Washington, USA
On serpentine rock and soil
i071908 067
Although I wonder if this might be Polystichum kruckebergii; Kruckeberg's Sword Fern ???
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
Ingalls Lake trail, Teanaway, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
next to a large serpentine rock
My other Shasta Fern photos
i090909 280
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil growing with Castilleja elmeri
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
On serpentine rock and soil, Ingalls Lake trail, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
i090909 228
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
On serpentine rock and soil, Ingalls Lake trail, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
i090909 225
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
descending from Long's Pass, in serpentine soil, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
i090909 766
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
Trail 1226.2 Pass to Lake Ann above Esmerelda Basin
Teanaway, Kittitas Co. Washington, USA
On serpentine rock and soil 1900 meters 6200 feet
30 July 2010
s100730 064
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
Stafford Creek trail 1359, Teanaway, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
next to a large serpentine rock
My other Shasta Fern photos
i062307 007
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae
Fern
Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio
lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and
high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
On serpentine rock and soil
Beverly Turnpike on the way up to Iron Peak, Teanaway
Kittitas County Washington USA
031
Polystichum lemmonii is my favorite fern, and I spent some time looking at it on this field trip.
Polystichum lemmonii the signature fern for serpentine soil
Arthur Kruckeberg: "Of the western ferns on serpentine, only Polystichum lemmonii is obligate,"
Source Hardy Fern Library
Dryopteridaceae family (Lemmon's holly-fern, Shasta fern)
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle.
The soils derived from ultramafic bedrock give rise to unusual and sparse associations of edaphic (and often endemic) plants that are tolerant of extreme soil conditions, including:
low calcium:magnesium ratio, lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and high concentrations of the heavy metals (more common in ultramafic rocks)
These plants are commonly called serpentine endemics, if they grow only on these soils. (Serpentinite is composed of the mineral serpentine, but the two terms are often both used to mean the rock, not its mineral composition.)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_soil accessed 14 Aug 2010
Bean Creek Trail 1391.1, 1340 meters, 4400 feet, Teanaway, Kittitas County, Washington
My other Polystichum lemmonii (Shasta Fern) photos
Northwestern Chapter of North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) field trip on 30 June 2012
325
Polystichum lemmonii is a species of fern known by the common names Lemmon's holly fern and Shasta fern. It is native to western North America from the Sierra Nevada of California north to Washington. It is also known from British Columbia, where there is a single occurrence in the mountains above the Okanagan Valley.
