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Species
Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Sw.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
(key to state/province abbreviations)
Japanese climbing fern:
AL | AR | FL | GA | LA |
MS | NC | SC | TX | PR |
Old World climbing fern:
FL |
More info for the terms: fern, ferns, fire management, fronds
As of this writing (2005) there are no published studies documenting the effects of fire on climbing ferns. Anecdotal accounts suggest that climbing fern fronds will burn (see Fire Management Considerations below), and to the extent that plant tissues are consumed or damaged, may be top-killed. Studies are needed that document and assess the effects of fire on climbing ferns.
Lygodium japonicum is a species of fern that is known by the common name Japanese climbing fern. It is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, southeastern Asia, and India, and eastern Australia. The fern is present in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico as an introduced species.[1]
This fern produces a creeping stem from which grow very long leaves, the longest exceeding 30 metres (98 feet). The leaves have rachises, which are vine-like and may climb other vegetation. What appear to be individual leaves sprouting from the twining rachis are actually leaflets, which are smaller segments from the main leaf. There are two types of leaflets, sterile and fertile. The sterile frond has lance-shaped segments. The fertile frond has more intricately divided, fringed segments. It is lined with sporangia on the edges.[1][2] The plant reproduces via spores and spreads vegetatively via underground rhizomes.[1]
An introduced species in North America, Japanese climbing fern was first recorded as being established in Georgia in 1903.[1] In the southeastern United States this plant is now considered an invasive weed of economic and ecological significance.[3] It grows in moist, swampy habitat, especially in disturbed areas. The presence of species such as the small-spike false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), royal fern (Osmunda spectabilis), resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. polypodioides), and toothed midsorus fern (Blechnum serrulatum) indicates the likely presence of this species.[1] During controlled burns of wooded areas this fern may act as a "fuel ladder", which would allow the flames to climb into the canopy and destroy trees. After burns the fern can quickly grow back, so it cannot be controlled by fire.[4]
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References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Munger, Gregory T. 2005. Lygodium spp. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ Lygodium japonicum. Flora of North America. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ Minogue, P. J., et al. (2010). Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum) management in Florida's Apalachicola bottomland hardwood forests. Invasive Plant Science and Management 3(3):246-252. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ Minogue, P. J., et al. Biology and control of Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum). University of Florida IFAS Extension. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
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Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lygodium_japonicum&oldid=598769049 |
More info on this topic.
This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [2]:
None
More info for the terms: fern, ground residual colonizer, initial off-site colonizer, rhizome, secondary colonizer
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [35]:
Rhizomatous fern, rhizome in soil
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Initial off-site colonizer (off-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer (on-site or off-site seed sources)
Lygodium japonicum is native to eastern Asia. It is commonly naturalized or escaped from cultivation. It has been reported as weedy in southern Alabama and Florida where its dense canopy can eliminate underlying vegetation.
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200003069 |
More info for the terms: cover, fern, ferns, fronds, shrubs, sporangia, vines
This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g. [27,43,44]).
Japanese climbing fern fronds are from 3.3 to 100 feet (1-30.5 m) in length [1,3,27], and Old World climbing fern fronds grow to 90 feet (27 m) long [15]. In Japanese climbing ferns, pinnae (groups of leaflets) are up to 12 inches (30 cm) wide, and are subdivided into 2 or 3 pinnules (leaflets) up to 3 inches (8 cm) long and 6 inches (15 cm) wide [27,28]. Old World climbing fern pinnae are 2 to 5 inches (5-13 cm) long with several pairs of pinnules [15]. Fertile pinnules of Old World climbing fern are fringed with tiny lobes of enrolled leaf tissue along the margin, which cover the reproductive tissues [15]. Japanese climbing fern sporangia are borne on narrow, fingerlike segments of the pinnae [3].
Japanese climbing fern | Old World climbing fern |
©John M. Randall/The Nature Conservancy | ©Mandy Tu/The Nature Conservancy |
In addition to their photosynthetic and reproductive functions, adult climbing fern fronds are analogous to the twining shoots of flowering plants, spreading along the ground, over shrubs, or climbing by twining around other structures, such as trees and other vines [3,15,18,27]. Twining growth is indeterminate and occurs at a steady rate [18,19,26]. Annual height increase averaged (± SE) 3.81 ± 0.07 feet (1.16 ± 0.02 m) for Old World climbing fern growing on infested trees in Jonathon Dickinson State Park and Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, southern Florida [38].
Climbing ferns are rhizomatous [3,27]. Rhizomes grow 0.4 to 1.2 inches (1-3 cm) below soil surface [18].
Climbing ferns are evergreen in subtropical environments [5].
More info for the terms: crown fire, fern, ferns, fire regime, ladder fuels
There are suggestions that Old World climbing fern is "tolerant of fire" (reviewed by [5]) and that Japanese climbing fern is "promoted" by fire (reviewed by [40]), but no details are provided.
Fire adaptations: Although it is likely that climbing ferns can regenerate following fire (see Plant Response To Fire), as of this writing (2005) there are no published descriptions of climbing fern fire adaptations.
FIRE REGIMES: Climbing ferns may alter FIRE REGIMES by providing ladder fuels, leading to greater incidence of crown fire in communities that are ill-adapted to crown fire (reviewed by [20]).
The following table provides fire return intervals for plant communities and ecosystems where climbing ferns are important. For further information, see the FEIS review of the dominant species listed below. This list may not be inclusive for all plant communities in which climbing ferns occur. If you are interested in plant communities or ecosystems that are not listed below, see the complete FEIS Fire Regime Table.
Climbing fern spp.** | Community or Ecosystem | Dominant Species | Fire Return Interval Range (years) |
J | bluestem-Sacahuista prairie | Andropogon littoralis-Spartina spartinae | 22] |
O | mangrove | Avicennia nitida-Rhizophora mangle | 35-200 [20] |
J | sugarberry-America elm-green ash | Celtis laevigata-Ulmus americana-Fraxinus pennsylvanica | <35 to 200 |
J | Atlantic white-cedar | Chamaecyparis thyoides | 35 to >200 |
J | yellow-poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | <35 [40] |
JO | Everglades | Mariscus jamaicensis | <10 |
JO | melaleuca | Melaleuca quinquenervia | <35 to 200 [20] |
J | shortleaf pine | Pinus echinata | 2-15 |
J | shortleaf pine-oak | Pinus echinata-Quercus spp. | <10 |
JO | slash pine | Pinus elliottii | 3-8 |
JO | slash pine-hardwood | Pinus elliottii-variable | <35 [40] |
JO | South Florida slash pine | Pinus elliottii var. densa | 1-15 [20,33,40] |
JO | longleaf-slash pine | Pinus palustris-P. elliottii | 1-4 [20,40] |
J | pocosin | Pinus serotina | 3-8 |
J | pond pine | Pinus serotina | 3-8 |
J | loblolly pine | Pinus taeda | 3-8 |
J | loblolly-shortleaf pine | Pinus taeda-P. echinata | 10 to <35 |
J | Virginia pine | Pinus virginiana | 10 to <35 |
J | Virginia pine-oak | Pinus virginiana-Quercus spp. | 10 to <35 |
J | sycamore-sweetgum-American elm | Platanus occidentalis-Liquidambar styraciflua-Ulmus americana | <35 to 200 [40] |
J | eastern cottonwood | Populus deltoides | <35 to 200 [22] |
J | mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | <35 to <100 [17,22] |
J | oak-hickory | Quercus-Carya spp. | <35 [40] |
J | oak-gum-cypress | Quercus-Nyssa-spp.-Taxodium distichum | 35 to >200 [20] |
J | southeastern oak-pine | Quercus-Pinus spp. | <10 |
J | white oak-black oak-northern red oak | Quercus alba-Q. velutina-Q. rubra | <35 |
J | post oak-blackjack oak | Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica | <10 |
J | black oak | Quercus velutina | <35 |
J | live oak | Quercus virginiana | 10 to<100 [40] |
JO | cabbage palmetto-slash pine | Sabal palmetto-Pinus elliottii | <10 [20,40] |
J | southern cordgrass prairie | Spartina alterniflora | 1-3 [22] |
JO | baldcypress | Taxodium distichum var. distichum | 100 to >300 |
JO | pondcypress | Taxodium distichum var. nutans | <35 [20] |
*fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species review
** J = Japanese climbing fern, O = Old World climbing fern
More info for the term: fern
The currently accepted genus name for climbing fern is Lygodium Sw.
[3,13,27,43,44]. This report summarizes information on 2 species of climbing fern:
Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw. [3,11,13,27,43,44] Japanese climbing fern
Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. [13,43,44] Old World climbing fern
When discussing characteristics typical (or likely to be typical) of both
species, this report refers to them collectively as climbing fern(s). When
referring to individual taxa, the common names listed above are used. Use
of the term "climbing fern(s)" does not refer to American climbing
fern (L. palmatum), which is native to parts of the eastern United
States.
Stems creeping. Leaves to ca. 3(-30) m. Petioles borne 2-7 mm apart, 10-35 cm. Sterile pinnae on 1.5-3.5 cm stalks, triangular to lanceolate, 2-3-pinnate, 6-15 × 5.5-15 cm; ultimate segments lanceolate, lobed or divided proximally; lobes usually acute at tip and directed toward apex; segment apices long-attenuate to acute; segments not articulate to petiolules, not leaving wiry stalks when detached; blade tissue pubescent abaxially with short, curved hairs. Fertile pinnae on 1-2 cm stalks, lanceolate-triangular, 2-3-pinnate, 5-18 × 4-14 cm; ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate, fringed with fertile lobes, otherwise similiar to sterile segments.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200003069 |