Working with Ferns


Book Description

This well timed volume features a selection of chapters composed by experts in their respective fields. It covers a broad range of topics, from its fundamental biology to the fern’s population genetics and environmental and therapeutic applications.




The Complete Book of Ferns


Book Description

The Complete Book of Ferns is filled with botanical information, indoor and outdoor growing and care information, details on propagation, display ideas, and even craft projects. This gorgeous book is authored by Mobee Weinstein, the Foreman of Gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx and a veteran guest on the Martha Stewart Living TV show and other media outlets. Houseplants in general are in ascendance, but no category is hotter than ferns. From the otherworldly Staghorns—mounted like antler trophies in homes throughout the world—to the classic Boston Ferns and newer varieties like Crispy Wave, ferns are definitely back in fashion. And to no one’s surprise. After all, ferns are among the very oldest plants on the planet, with a long and storied history. There are tens of thousands of known varieties of ferns. In the Victorian Era, ferns created an absolute craze for more than 50 years. They re-emerged as integral home décor accessories in the '50s and '60s, and who didn’t spend time in a "Fern Bar" back in the '80s? And they are back again. This comprehensive reference starts its examination of ferns 400 million years ago, when the first species of this group of spore-reproducing plants appeared on Earth, exploring their evolution and eventual incorporation into human culture, including the powers associated with them and their practical and ornamental uses. Then, after an exploration of fern botany—its parts, how it grows, its variability in size and form, habitats, propagation, etc.—you'll learn how to green your indoor and outdoor environments with ferns. Every aspect of fern care is covered: potting/planting, watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and more. With this knowledge absorbed, explore creative planting projects, like terrariums, vertical gardens (living walls), mixed tabletop gardens, and moss baskets. To make your survey of ferns complete, create pressed fern art, fabric wall hangings with chlorophyll-stained designs, cyanotypes, and hand-made fern-decorated paper. In the end, you will understand why this ancient plant class continues to be all the rage.




Current Advances in Fern Research


Book Description

Ferns, collectively, represent an ancient species of vascular plant which has a direct connection to the beginning of life on Earth. Today they are valued for their ornamental appeal, environmental benefit or as sources of health benefiting metabolites. Current pteridology, the study of fern, encompasses a wide range of research activities including, but not limited to, plant physiology, stress tolerance, genetics and genomics. The goal of this book is to compile the most relevant research done with ferns during the last decade. It is organized into four parts: I, Biology and Biotechnology; II, Evolution and Conservation; III, Metabolism and Genetic Resources, and IV, Environment. Each section reveals the utilization of ferns as a tool to explore challenges unique to plant development and adaptation. This project represents our collective effort to raise the awareness of ferns as a model system to study higher plant functions. Among the distinctive features of our proposed book are: (i) a wide range of topics with contributing researchers from all around the world, and (ii) recent advances of theoretic and applied knowledge with implications to crop species of economic value.




Ferns of Southern Africa: A Comprehensive Guide (PVC)


Book Description

This comprehensive guide to the ferns of southern Africa (covering South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia) throws new light on a fascinating category of plants that is little known by the general public . User-friendly and accessible, it will enable quick and sure identification of all 321 ferns known to occur in the region. Each species features a double-page spread with a full plate of photographs (including close-ups); informative line drawings where necessary; clear text descriptions; tables that highlight differences between similar-looking species; and distribution maps based on years of intensive fieldwork. In addition, there are identification keys to families, genera and species. To compile this book the authors travelled extensively and took some 30 000 photographs, even finding several new species of fern. They are all treated in this guide – some described here for the first time. This unique and beautiful volume will become the standard reference book on the ferns of southern Africa.




Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes


Book Description

"With their team of contemporary scholars, the editors present a thorough coverage of fundamental topics necessary for obtaining an up-to-date understanding of the biology of ferns and lycophytes. The book is organized into major topics that build from the individual and its biochemistry and structure, to genetics and populations, to interactions among individuals and the conservation of species, and concludes with perspectives on evolutionary history and classification. Each chapter is organized to review past work, explore current questions, and suggest productive directions for continued discoveries about these fascinating groups of organisms. Written for upper undergraduates, graduates and academic researchers, Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes fills a major gap in biological, organism-level, evolutionary literature by providing a review of the biology and evolution of this important group of vascular land plants."--NHBS Environment Bookstore.




Oaxaca Journal


Book Description

Oliver Sacks, the bestselling author of Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, is most famous for his studies of the human mind: insightful and beautifully characterized portraits of those experiencing complex neurological conditions. However, he has another scientific passion: the fern . . . Since childhood Oliver has been fascinated by the ability of these primitive plants to survive and adapt in many climates. Oaxaca Journal is the enthralling account of his trip, alongside a group of fellow fern enthusiasts, to the beautiful province of Oaxaca, Mexico. Bringing together Oliver’s endless curiosity about natural history and the richness of human culture with his sharp eye for detail, this book is a captivating evocation of a place, its plants, its people, and its myriad wonders. ‘Light and fast-moving, unburdened by library research but filled with erudition’ – New Yorker




Ferns and Fern Allies of Taiwan (英文版)


Book Description

介紹台灣全部729種的蕨類與相關植物。台灣是全球蕨類多樣性中心之一,在35,800平方公里的區域內,分佈了超過700種蕨類及類蕨類植物。 本書以圖文並茂的方式介紹台灣以及周圍小島的所有蕨類,包括: ‧ 目前已知的種類、亞種及混種。 ‧ 外來種。 ‧ 總數多達4,700張照片。 ‧ 提供精準可靠的辨認要訣以分類其科屬種。 ‧ 詳盡的背景資料。 ‧ 對蕨類保育的建言。 ‧ 各種蕨類的分布與頻率。 ‧ 各種蕨類的植被帶與棲地。 ‧ 同時提供學名、中文名、拼音與俗名。 ‧ 豐富的參考書目。 ‧ 詳細的索引,包含同義詞、錯誤的命名與在其他分類系統出現的命名。 A description of all 729 species of ferns and related plants in Taiwan. Taiwan is one of the global diversity centers of pteridophytes (ferns, and plants allied to them) with more than 700 species distributed over an area of 35,800 square kilo-meters. This book provides an illustrated introduction to all species of Taiwan and its neighboring smaller islands. Includes: · all currently known species, subspecies and hybrids; · invasive species; · extensively illustrated with a total of more than 4,700 images; · precise keys for the reliable identification of families, genera and species; · comprehensive background information; · recommendations for conservation needs; · distribution and frequency information for all species; · description of vegetation zones and habitats for all species; · scientific names accompanied with Chinese name, pinyin transcription and commonly used deviating scientific names; · extensive bibliography; · detailed index containing synonyms, misapplied names and names in alternative taxonomic combinations.




The Ferns and Allied Plants of Pennsylvania


Book Description

Three hundred million years ago, ferns dominated the earth's surface, forming extensive marshes and forests with heights of over twenty-five meters. Today, ferns and their allies are still abundantly represented in the plant world, with somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 species identified and recognized. These nonflowering, nonseeding, highly vascular plants make up a major and ancient division in the plant kingdom called Pteridophytes. In the state of Pennsylvania, one can find more than 100 species of these highly specialized plants. While ferns are by far the largest division of the Pteridophyte group in the state, horsetails, clubmosses, spikemosses, and quillworts are the lesser-known members, frequently misidentified as relatives of more modern flowering plants. With more than 190 color photographs and descriptions of 96 different plants, recognizing each Pteridophyte is a relatively easy matter. The photos of the plants show them growing in their natural settings, which helps to establish a clearer picture of the common characteristics of the families and their likely habitats. Maps illustrate the distribution of the various species throughout the counties of Pennsylvania and across the United States. Taxonomic keys are also included for each of the groups to assist in identifying the plants based on their biology. Finally, the book provides the most common local names for the plants, making it useful for both the amateur naturalist and the professional botanist.




Identifying Ferns the Easy Way


Book Description

"Identifying Ferns the Easy Way: A Pocket Guide to Common Ferns of the Northeast" is an exquisitely illustrated and easy-to-use guide created to make fern identification more accessible than ever for nature lovers of all ages. This guide presents a unique method to explain how ferns are classified into five major groups. Then, these groupings are illustrated using fern silhouettes. Each of the 28 common ferns in this guide has descriptions which detail "Where it Grows," "Tips for Identification," "Can be Confused With" and "Interesting Notes." The terminology used in this book makes this guide extremely user-friendly. "Gardeners, hikers and naturalists all need this elegantly simple guide to the common fern species of the Northeast. The lineage of these plants is ancient, their charms immutable. These pages bring their identities into the light, a gift indeed." Roger B. Swain. Host, PBS -TV's "The Victory Garden""This guide offers a wonderful way for people to become acquainted with our common regional ferns. A simple, effective key and great illustrations make this a very user-friendly field guide."Tom Wessels, Professor Emeritus, Antioch University and author of "The Forested Landscape."Lynn Levine, began her career in 1978, as the first woman consulting forester in the Northeast. She has taken thousands of people into the forest to share her love of nature, and to spur others to feel the same. She has found that teaching about trees, tracks and, now, ferns, is one powerful way to spark and enhance that bond. Levine is the author of "Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide," and two children's books: "Snow Secrets" and "Is it Time, Yet?" She is co-author of "Working with Your Woodland: A Landowner's Guide" and "Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Tracking Guide." Briony Morrow-Cribbs launched her book illustrating career with two New York Times Best Sellers: "Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities" and "Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects." Briony's work includes etchings, prints and illustrations.




The Plant Lover's Guide to Ferns


Book Description

Ferns are easy to grow and readily available in big box stores, garden centers, and mail-order nurseries, making them a popular ornamental among new and advanced gardeners. Perfect for containers, borders, layered gardens, foliage accents, and shady areas, ferns come in a range of colors and varieties. The Plant Lover’s Guide to Ferns, by fern enthusiasts Richie Steffen and Sue Olsen, is packed with information on these reliable plants. The book includes profiles for 134 plants, with information on growth and propagation, advice on using ferns in garden design, and lists of where to buy the plants and where to view them in public gardens.