Ancient Species in the Watershed
The mention of pre-historic times often brings to mind enormous dinosaurs. Did you know some of the humble ferns of our watershed are as ancient as these giant reptiles? Or that, unlike the dinosaurs, they are still living among us today?
Ferns are among the oldest group of plants still alive today. They differ from other plants as they reproduce through spores. The wind carries these spores over long distances, allowing access to new habitats far from the original plant.
Common Ferns
You can find many ferns throughout the Credit River Watershed, here are some that are common:
Field Horsetail Fern
Horsetails are unique looking plants with thin, hollow stems. Some horsetail species have branchless stems that resemble straws. Others have branches that spiral out from the center stem, resembling a horse’s tail.
The horsetails we see today are relatives of ancient tree-sized giants from 360 million years ago. Back then, they formed vast forests of thick stemmed plants growing up to 50 metres tall!
Field horsetails are a common sight across our watershed, growing in two distinct forms. The first form emerges around late April, where they produce spores at the top of yellowish stems. These stems quickly wither away, giving rise to a green stemmed plant with many thin, radiating branches.
Cinnamon Fern
Cinnamon ferns are a beautiful sight in wetlands. They grow in circular clumps of large leaves that reach three to five feet high! In the center of their leaves are cinnamon-coloured spores held up on tall, straight stems.
Cinnamon fern is among the oldest known living plant species on earth. Amazingly, through fossil records, scientists discovered this species has remained almost unchanged since the Jurassic period 180 million years ago. You can find these living fossils growing in many of our conservation areas, including Terra Cotta, Silver Creek and Rattray Marsh.
Bracken Fern
Bracken may not appear to be a fern at first glance. With its large triangular leaves and tall stem, it looks like a few other fern species. Upon further inspection, you’ll see spores lining the underside of leaves.
Bracken is widespread across the world, growing on all continents except Antarctica. Similarly, you can find it across our watershed’s conservation areas, from Island Lake in the north to Rattray Marsh in the south.
Northern Maidenhair Fern
These ferns are called “maidenhair” because their leaves resemble thick hair cascading down a maiden’s shoulders. The dark stalk supports light green leaves that reach up to two feet tall.
Maidenhair ferns are an unmistakable sight of hardwood forests. To see these beautiful ferns in our watershed, head to Terra Cotta, Silver Creek or Limehouse Conservation Areas.
Ferns are a Watershed’s Best Friend
Ferns are important components of our watershed’s ecosystems. Their presence provides wildlife habitat, improves soil health and quickly colonizes new natural areas, filling them with vegetation. Ferns, being sensitive to ecosystem disturbances, serve as valuable bioindicators for ecologists assessing ecosystem health.
CVC’s Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program (IWMP) collects data on the health of plant species in our watershed. Through IWMP, we have gathered data on 28 of the 67 known fern species in our watershed! Keep a lookout for ferns on the trails and in our parks before the growing season is over.
Have you seen ferns while visiting our conservation areas? Share your photos with us on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
By Joe Gabriel, Technician, Watershed Monitoring