Trail Art with the Goldback Fern

As one wanders the lush coastal mountains of California one thing that can be certain is that you will pass by a wonderful diversity of ferns. While many of these ferns thrive best in the deep damp gulches and along the creek-sides that share the forests cover, a few ferns appreciate a bit of a more dynamic habitat where the cycles of wet to dry can fluctuate within the day - sometimes the hour. One of my favorite fronds of this variety is the Goldback Fern, Pentagramma triangularis.

The Goldback Fern grows in unfurling fronds that curl out from sunlit hillsides in the redwood, mixed forest, and oak woodlands. It reproduces by spore instead of seeds. It relies on moisture to maintain its composure and has roots and a vascular system to carry this important water stuff around. Because it grows on such sunny hills it has a big potential to desiccate - or dry out - during the day.

For this reason the Goldback Fern has adapted to coat its underside in a thick dusty layer of moisture retaining spores. These spores give the Goldback Fern its ability to hold onto all the moisture that the fog brings through the night even as the sun and wind come through during the day. This adaptation also lets us use these little plants as a fun trail craft.

To spore print a goldback fern:

First find a frond that still has a good coating of fuzzy gold spores on the underside but is starting to go a little brown. (much more polite to take a frond that is already on its way out)

Pick that little frond and place it spore side down on your pants, shirt, or a piece of dark paper. The darker the surface the better the contrast will be.

Give it a good SMACK

Lift up the frond and check out your print!

What are your favorite ferns and places to find them?