Question

Give at least 3 defining features of ferns
Identify at least 1 species of fern. Give both the scientific and the common name.
Where is this fern commonly found?

Answer 1

### Defining Features of Ferns:

1. **Vascular Plants**: Ferns are vascular plants that possess specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for water and nutrient transport, allowing them to grow larger and in a variety of habitats compared to non-vascular plants like mosses.

2. **Reproductive Structures**: Ferns reproduce through spores rather than seeds. They produce sporangia, often located on the undersides of their leaves (fronds), which release spores that can develop into a gametophyte stage in moist environments.

3. **Fronds**: The leaves of ferns, known as fronds, are typically compound, meaning they are divided into smaller leaflets called pinnae. Fronds often have a characteristic coiling (circinate vernation) when they first emerge.

### Species of Fern:

- **Scientific Name**: *Pteridium aquilinum*
- **Common Name**: Bracken Fern

### Habitat:

The Bracken Fern is commonly found in a wide range of environments, including temperate and tropical regions. It typically thrives in disturbed areas, grasslands, forests, and along roadsides, often forming dense stands in open or semi-shaded areas.