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Dryopteris (filix-mas)

Tara Luna
USDI NPS - Glacier National Park
West Glacier, Montana 59936
(406) 888-7835
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/azpmc
Family Scientific Name: Dryopteridaceae
Family Common Name: Woof Fern family
Scientific Name: Dryopteris filix-mas L. (Schott)
Common Name: Male fern
Species Code: DRYFIL
Ecotype: Cedar/Devils Club habitat, Glacier National Park, Flathead County, MT.
General Distribution: D. filix-mas is a circumboreal species, common in moist forests and stream banks, from lowland to mid-montane elevations.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 3 L container
Time To Grow: 1 Years
Target Specifications: Stock Type: Container sporophyte<br> Height: 30 cm, 7 mature fronds<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Fully developed short rhizomatous root mass.
Propagule Collection: An indusium is present; collect fronds when indusium begins to lift and spore color is black.
Propagule Processing: Fronds are placed spore surface down on butcher paper in a room without air movement to collect spores. Spores will appear as a fine dust on the paper after several days of drying.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Collect spores from the surface of paper and surface sow in sterilized flats filled with sterile, finely milled sphagnum peat moss. Water spores with distilled water and seal flats with clear plastic wrap to seal in moisture and prevent fungal contamination. Place flats under 60 watt soft incandescent lights set at 12 hour per day illumination. Germination of spores will occur after 15 days. The thread like germ filaments can be seen with the aid of a microscope and will appear as a fine green threads on the surface of the media. A constant temperature of 20 to 25C should be maintained throughout the growth of the prothalli.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Sealed flats are grown under grow lights for 2 to 3 months.
Continued growth under greenhouse conditions at 20 to 25 C for 2 to 3 months, followed by growth in the outdoor shadehouse for 6 months.
Establishment Phase: Sowing/Planting Technique: Moisten trays with distilled water before sowing. Surface sow spores evenly by hand using sterile gloves or other sterile sowing implement. Spores require light for germination. Seal trays immediately after sowing.
Establishment Phase: Germination of the spores occurs 3 weeks after sowing. The heart shaped prothalli continue to grow for 10 to 12 weeks.
Examination of the prothalli under a microscope will reveal the presence of the reproductive structures; the antheridia (male) and archegonia (female), located along the margins and notch of the prothalli.
At this stage, it is critical to maintain a thin film of water over the surface of the prothalli for fertilization to occur. It is critical to maintain sterile conditions during germination and establishment. Trays must be inspected for fungal contamination on a regular basis. If fungal contamination occurs, remove infected portions of the medium and treat trays with a highly diluted (1/4 recommended rate)fungicide drench. Treat with dilute fungicideonly if prothalli are well developed. Reseal flats immediately and water only with distilled water.
Once sporophytes appear, clear plastic is removed from the trays and asceptic conditions are no longer necessary.
Length of Establishment Phase: 2 to 3 months
Active Growth Phase: Appearance of sporophytes occurred 5 months after spore germination. Individual plants are transplanted from flats to pots when they are 2 inches tall. After establishment in the greenhouse, they are moved to the outdoor shadehouse in late spring. Plants are fertilized with 13-13-13 NPK controlled release Osmocote (4 g) and Micromax microtnutrients (2g) mixed into Promix media per 800 ml container. Plants are root tight in containers by fall, one year after germination.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 8 months
Hardening Phase: Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm in early fall; pots are leached with water. Plants are watered before overwintering.
Length of Hardening Phase: 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Total Time To Harvest: 1 year
Harvest Date: September
Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor shadehouse under insulating foam and snow.
Length of Storage: 5 months
Other Comments: Plants have been held successfully for two years in 3L (1 gallon) containers in the nursery. Root mass on mature plants consists of a series of short, stout rhizomes. This species develops more slowly than other species. Plants produced spore bearing fronds 2 years after germination.
Vegetative Propagation Method: ÿDivisions of rhizomes can easily be done in early spring.
References: Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1990.
Ferns to Know and Grow, Foster, F.G., Timber Press, 1984.
Glacier Park Native Plant NurseryPropagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Dryopteris filix-mas L. (Schott) plants 3 L container; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.