Wild in January
Ploypody ferns are found in damp shady places such as steep narrow valleys and banks in woodlands.They are also able to tolerate very dry conditions. At this time of year they can be seen more clearly on mossy branches of trees as an epiphyte in humid damp woods. An epiphyte is a plant which grows on the surface of another plant and collect moisture and nutrients from the rain, air or from debris around it. They spread by creeping rhizomes but are not invasive.
Their fronds (leaves) are fairly tough and leathery which will generally stay green through the winter. Most other ferns die back in the winter.The simple leaflets come from the main stem as horizontal fingers like rungs of a ladder. Lines of small round dots are found on the underside of the fingers. These are where the spores are produced.They are green when first formed before turning yellow and then brown as they ripen from August onwards.
There are three species of polypody in the UK, which look quite similar. However, only the common polypody grows on trees.The spores of the other species ripen later.
Article and photos by Pauline Hill