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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
ferns & allies

Cryptogramma acrostichoides (parsley fern)

Category: 
ferns and allies

parsley fern (photo by Moralea Milne)

Small evergreen perennial fern with short stems ascending from branched rhizomes clothed with scales. Sterile and fertile fronds markedly different. Leaf stipes straw-coloured. Sterile leaves to 20 cm tall usually three-times branched with thick, crispy-firm, egg-shaped blades. Leaflets mostly 3-10 pairs, largest at the base with ultimate segments finely-toothed. Fertile leaves to 30 cm tall. Blades broadly lance-shaped, two to three-times branched, leaflets mostly three to ten pairs with in-rolled margins and blunt tips. Sori continuous along the length of fertile leaflets and covered by the rolled margins (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Photo by Moralea Milne.

Scientific Name: 

Cryptogramma acrostichoides R. Br. (C. crispa [L.] R. Br. Hook. var. acrostichoides [r. Br.] C.B. Clarke, ssp. acrostichoides [R. Br.] Hult.)

Family: 
Pteridaceae
English Name: 
parsley fern

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Fairly dry, rocky, open sites (cliffs, ledges, crevices, talus slopes) at low to high elevations (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994)

Soil Texture: 

Coarse and free draining

Nutrients: 
n/a
Soil Reaction and Salinity: 
n/a
Moisture Regime: 

Dry to fresh

Shade Tolerance: 
n/a
Successional Status: 
n/a
BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 
n/a

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 
n/a
Wildlife: 
n/a
Landscaping: 

Potential garden ornamental for the dry rock garden

First Nations: 

No known uses

Other Uses: 
n/a

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 
n/a
Fruit Ripening Time: 
n/a
Seed Collection Time: 

When spores are well developed (tan or brown in colour) in the sori, tie a clear plastic bag over fertile fronds and shake until spores are dislodged. Check sori with a magnifying glass to ensure that they are empty. Repeat at intervals until all sori are empty. Spread spores on the surface of a 1:1 peat/vermiculite planting mixture. Set container in the dark for a few days before moving to a well-lit location. Keep the planting medium damp by covering with glass or clear plastic. Gametophytes will appear after one to three months. Keep the planting medium damp by covering with glass or clear plastic. As gametophytes grow, continually thin 0.5 cm plugs into larger individual containers with moist, well-draining soil-less medium leaving 2.5 cm between each plug. Cover to retain humidity and place in bright area but not in full sunlight. Mist gametophytes to encourage fertilization. Sporphytes will appear in 1 to 6 months and once fronds reach 2.5 cm in height they can be transferred to individual containers.

Crop Intervals: 
n/a
Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 
n/a
Seed Viability: 
n/a
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 
n/a
Seed Storage: 
n/a
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 
n/a

Vegetative Propagation

Can be propagated by division in the spring and by rhizome cuttings.

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Plant in well-drained soil. Provide some moisture during the first year of establishment.

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.