Osmunda claytoniana #1 (Interrupted Fern)

Interrupted Ferns are mind-blowing in their longevity, both in the garden and over the millennia that they have been here, virtually unchanged. Fossils closely resembling this species were uncovered in Antarctica and dated back to the late Triassic, 220,000,000 years ago! This fern prefers to grow in moist to wet habitats, though it can tolerate drier conditions than the other native Osmundas. They can even thrive in full sun if persistent moisture is available. The fertile pinnae “interrupt” the vegetative pinnae in the middle of the frond, hence the common name. The clumping growth habit branches over time to form colonies in preferred growing conditions.

Sources:
Native Ferns, Moss, & Grasses by William Cullina
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Photo Credit:
Integrated Landscape: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons