Wisconsin's rare plants

Glade fern has oblong-lanceolate leaves, 35-75cm long, 13-25cm wide, that are acute at the base, widest above the base, acute-acuminate at the apex, and pinnate. Pinnae are linear, truncate at the base, shallowly crenate to entire, acuminate at the apex, the veins forked at or near the base and 0-2 branches again forked above the base. Sori are elongate, several times longer than wide, nearly straight, not recurved, at ~60-degree angle to the costae (main veins). Indusia are translucent, brownish, and entire.

Rhizomatous

Perennial. This species can be identified year-round.

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, Athyrium thelypterioides, Dryopteris goldiana, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Quercus rubra, and Adiantum pedatum.

Glade fern is found in very rich, mesic deciduous forests, often with dolomite near the surface.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.