Polystichum aleuticum

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Polystichum aleuticum
Aleutian Shield Fern.jpg
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Polystichum
Species:
P. aleuticum
Binomial name
Polystichum aleuticum
C. Christens.

Polystichum aleuticum, the Aleutian holly fern [1] or Aleutian shield fern, is an endangered species of the Polystichum genus and currently consisting of a small, vulnerable population endemic found only on Adak Island, Alaska, a remote island of the Aleutian Islands chain in the northern Pacific Ocean. In 1992, 112 specimens existed in the wild, and a recovery plan was implemented. [2]

Contents

The Aleutian shield fern is the only native plant of Alaska on the federal endangered species list. As there are fewer than 150 plants known to exist, it is a very rare North American plant. [3] It was listed as endangered in 1988. [4] Polystichum aleuticum was first described in 1938, but it could not be located again until 1975 when a group was identified on Mount Reed on Adak Island. A second, third, and fourth population, all on Mount Reed, was located in 1988, 1993, and 1999, respectively. Searches on other Aleutian Islands since 1988 have failed to identify additional populations. [5] [6]

Distribution

It is unlike any other known shield fern found in North America, and originally it was questioned whether it even belonged to the genus Polystichum . However, it was found to be similar to a dwarf Polystichum species native to southwestern mountains of China and the Himalayas. [7]

Description

The Polystichum aleuticum fern is described as erect and approximately six inches tall. It usually found growing alone, rather than in groups. It has a fibrous root with dead leaf remnants attached. Its leaves, visible during the growing season, are light or dark olive green, and tapering. [8] Each of its fronds has 15 to 25 pairs of leaflets (pinnae) that are either sessile or have short stalks and are 4 to 8 mm in length. The upper leaflets each have one spore-producing sori (sometimes two) on the leaflet under surface that is protected by the indusium, a flap of tissue. The spores are produced in July and August. [7]

Notes

  1. NRCS. "Polystichum aleuticum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  2. "NPWRC :: Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Program". www.npwrc.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  3. "Abstracts: Aleutian shield fern. Prairie fringed orchids". www.faqs.org. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  4. "Species Profile for Aleutian Shield fern (Polystichum aleuticum)". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  5. Sandra Talbot, Steven Talbot. "JSTOR: American Fern Journal, Vol. 92, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 2002), pp. 288-293". 92: 288–293. JSTOR   1547136.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. G. Vernon Byrd, Jeffrey C. Williams (March 2007). "Management Plan for the Alaskan Shield Fern (Polystichum aleuticum) on Adak Island, Alaska" (PDF). PDF. Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  7. 1 2 Rumsey, Fred (June 2001). Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World, Volume 4. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. p. 258. ISBN   9780761471981 . Retrieved 20 November 2009.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. "Species Fern, Aleutian Shield". fwie.fw.vt.edu. Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-18.

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