Goldback Fern (Pentagramma triangularis) grows in the wet fall and winter and goes dormant for droughty months. At Leaning Oaks is grows best on our the west-facing cliff that bakes dry in the summer. When I took this photo it was below-freezing and after a night with a strong, drying wind. In response to dessication, the leaf edges roll under and then unfurl when humidity increases. Later in the spring, the white sori on the undersides of their leaves will start to produce gold spores in sufficient quantity to colour the undersides gold. Placing a leaf gold-side-down on dark material will leave behind a delicate gold imprint of the leaf pattern.
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AuthorsTwo biologists on a beautiful property armed with cameras, smart phones and a marginal knowledge of websites took up the challenge of documenting one species a day on that property. Join along! Posts and photographs by Leah Ramsay and David Fraser (unless otherwise stated); started January 1, 2014. Categories
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