One of the oldest plants on our planet is a fern. It grows both in tropical forests and in wetlands. Today, more than 20 thousand species of this unique plant are known.
The name of ferns and their structure will be discussed in detail in this article.
Description
Representatives of the fern order belong to the department of higher plants. They have a conductive tissue that delivers substances and water to all organs. The plants consist of root, stem and well-developed leaves. He has no flowers and seeds. In more detail, the names of fern organs we will consider below. These plants can be found in almost any corner of the globe. However, in the humid tropics, their great species diversity is concentrated. In size, these plants are both very small (a few centimeters), and quite tall and powerful (up to 20 meters).
Names of organs and structures of fern
The roots In this plant, they are subordinate. This means that the root practically does not develop, instead shoots and leaves are formed. The stems are quite diverse, both in internal structure and in appearance. In some ferns, they can be creeping or curly, but most common are straight lines. Quite large leaves extend from the stem upward. They perform the functions of sporulation and photosynthesis. Sporophylls mature on the underside of the leaves. Once on the ground, “female” spores germinate in the growths, which are small, heart-shaped plates. As a rule, their diameter is not more than one centimeter. On the surface of the plates are the so-called "female" genitals. Microspores are formed from male spores, in which sperm mature. They are carried by the wind, falling on trees, grass, etc. After the maturation of the shell and its rupture, the "male" seeds are in the external environment. With water, sperm enters the female growth. So a new plant appears. In this case, the heart-shaped growth withers and dies. Some ferns can propagate vegetatively. In this case, new plants form on old leaves lying on the ground. Over time, they take root in the soil and germinate.
Cambium is absent in ferns. That is why their strength and growth are limited, and tree rings do not form on the stem. These are unique plants - ferns.
Types and Names
Some representatives of this detachment are extremely decorative. Other ferns, photos and names of which are described in this article, differ in healing properties. Still others are widespread in the culinary arts (bracken, ostrich, brown osmundra). There are poisonous plants, for example, the thyroid. Ferns, depending on the habitat, are divided into land and water. There is also another large group - tree-like.
Nephrolepis
The homeland of this amazingly beautiful houseplant is tropical America. It has long, curved arc sculptures with luxurious wavy leaves.
Common ostrich
This plant got its name due to the similarity of leaves with the shape of ostrich feathers.
It grows on the outskirts of swamps, in moist forests and floodplains. Rapidly multiplying, the plant forms dense thickets. It is the ostrich who uses florists to compose bouquets and flower arrangements.
Female coder
It grows in gray shaded places. It can be seen in ravines and forest peatlands. A cob-skier forms bumps in a swampy area. Its strongly dissected leaves are light green in color. In the winter they die. The root is short but thick enough. In the spring, new young leaves begin to grow. The plant propagates by spores.
Phlebodium golden
This plant grows on trees, attaching to the trunk with “legs”. It has a creeping rhizome with soft brownish-golden scales, from which pinnate leaves about 1.5 meters long extend.
Orlyak
The height of this plant can reach more than 60 centimeters. It is found almost everywhere, even on dry and poor soils. The fern has a horizontally branched long rhizome, from which yellow single leaves depart. The roots of this plant have healing properties and are used in medical science.
Maidenhair
In the people, this plant is called "venereal hair."
It has very thin and long (up to 35 centimeters) light green leaves located on black stems. Adiantum loves partial shade. It can be grown on personal plots or at home.
Thyroid
In nature, this plant grows in the mountains among stones or in a shady forest. In height, it can reach from 30 to 150 centimeters. The thyroid gland has a powerful rhizome, from which leaves on long petioles form a goblet rosette. The plant develops very slowly. The name of ferns in some cases is due to their biological characteristics. This can be said about the thyroid. On the underside of the leaves of the plant are spore-bearing organs, covered by kidney-shaped platinum, as if by shields. This feature gave the name to fern. The plant is poisonous. Nevertheless, many doctors use its rhizome for the manufacture of medicinal potions.
Family
Includes over 600 plant species. These tree ferns are distributed mainly in tropical humid areas. Plant height can reach more than twenty meters. The stability of the fern is possible due to the thick plexus of rigid adnexal roots that make up the trunk.
Leaves are usually pinnate and very large. Their length can be up to six meters. Some types of ferns (names and photos are presented on this page) at the place of attachment of the segments to the stem of the leaf plate have oval portions of the airborne tissue. They serve for gas exchange. In some plants, airy areas extend over the leaf.
Tsibotievye family
They grow mainly in the forests of Asia, Central America, Mexico, Southern China and Hawaii. Representatives of this family have a direct stem. Leaves - twice or thrice pinnate. The top of the trunk is covered with a protective cover, consisting of soft long hairs. Young leaves of this plant can be eaten.
Thyrsopteris
The representative of this family - the fern Thyrsopteris elegans grows only on the island of Juan Fernandez, located in the Pacific Ocean near South America. Its height is about 1.5 meters.
Cultic
Represented by large ferns with a creeping trunk. The length of the plant, as a rule, is not more than 50 centimeters. Leaves - 4, 5-pinnate, small (up to 3 cm). Petioles are light or dark brown. Leaves are not fully developed, pubescent with light brown or reddish hairs. The names of fern plants of this species are as follows: Culcita coniifolia (grows in the north and in the center of South America) and C. macrocarpa (in the Macaronesian floristic region). The number of this species is steadily declining.
That is why the fern of this species is included in the list of protected plants of Portugal and Spain.
Water
The name of ferns - Marsileia and Salvinia - refers to the third group of plants of the species we describe. They live exclusively in water bodies.
Four-leafed marsileia
This small perennial plant has broad blade-rounded leaves. Sporocarpia 2-3 pieces are located at the base of the petiole. Each of them has a length of about 5 millimeters. Usually the height of Marsileia does not exceed twenty centimeters. However, the petioles of floating leaves can reach 80 cm, and the rhizome - about 1 meter. Usually this type of fern is used to decorate ponds.
Salvinia
This plant is rare and needs protection. Very often, salvia is grown specifically for landscaping aquariums. The plant can be seen in the ponds of botanical gardens. Outwardly, it does not look like usual ferns. The stalk of a salvinia is thin and long (about 15 cm). Leaves are collected in three. Two of them are solid, elliptical in shape with a heart-shaped base. The third sheet is underwater. It is covered with hairs and dissected into filiform strips similar to the roots.
This leaf absorbs nutrients and water.
Indian
The name of ferns of this species is known firsthand to lovers of the aquarium flora. The plant grows in tropical regions of the globe. Its light green leaves are beautifully dissected. Under favorable conditions, they can reach a height of 40-50 centimeters.
Thailand
The birthplace of the plant is Southeast Asia. Fern has corrugated, lanceolate hard leaves that can reach thirty centimeters in height. They are attached to a dark green strong rhizome.