Fifty ferns have been recorded from Grey and Bruce counties, two thirds of the fern flora of Ontario and only two fewer than the number found in the British Isles. Although the number is not great, people find them difficult to identify since they are all green and have no flowers.

The first identifying feature to view is the shape of the frond (leaf). In a few ferns the fronds are entire. A good example of this is the Hart’ s Tongue Fern. This is globally rare as, in North America, it is only found in any quantity in this area of Ontario, especially along the escarpment. There are a few remnant populations in the States. It is related to the much more common Hart’s Tongue found in Europe but, separation for thousands of years – probably by glaciation – has caused the North American population to develop into a separate sub-species.

In the picture of the Hart’s Tongue Fern, another fern can be seen just left of the centre which has the blade of the frond divided into leaflets. In ferns, these are called pinnae (singular – pinna). We refer to these ferns as once divided. This is the Northern Holly Fern so called because the pinnae are stiff and feel prickly. Another example of a once divided fern is the Polypody. This is not too common in this area as it flourishes in more acid situations but it will grow on a rock if it is covered with a good layer of humus and mosses.

The Walking fern is also an example of a fern with an undivided frond. In this case, they are very tapered and have the ability to root at the tip. Consequently, it forms dense clones. These are only found on the top of large dolostone blocks in this area.

In the Sensitive Fern the pinnules are indented but not quite divided into sub-leaflets. The Sensitive Fern is named because it is extremely sensitive to frost so that its fronds are one of the first to die and shrivel up at the beginning of autumn. In some ferns the second division is complete and the pinnae are divided into pinnules. We refer to these as twice divided. The Silvery Glade Fern is an example of this and so is the Virginia Chain Fern.

In some ferns the pinnules are further sub-divided into lobes and these are said to be thrice divided. A common example of this type of lacy fern is the Spinulose Wood Fern found in swampy forest. The Evergreen Wood Fern is similar but is found on drier forest floors, especially at the base of trees. Its fronds stay green all winter, even under the snow. The Lady Fern is also thrice cut. It is difficult to separate them until you turn them over and look at the way the sporangia (spore producing organs) are housed in the indusia. In the Spinulose and Evergreen wood ferns the indusia are little dots, in the Lady Fern they are slits which form chevrons. In the photo of the Virginia Chain Fern we are looking at the underside of the frond and we can seen the indusia tightly packed along the midrib.

There is a great deal of variation in the spore bearing organs of ferns. In some cases, like the Cinnamon Fern on the front cover of The Ferns of Grey and Bruce , the fertile frond is a totally different structure from the sterile fronds. The Cinnamon Fern is so named because the colour of the spores makes the fertile frond look like a cinnamon stick. The Sensitive Fern also has a different kind of fertile frond which remains erect and shedding spores all through the winter after the sterile fronds are long dead. In some cases, the fronds are part sterile and part fertile. The Rattlesnake Fern is an example of this. The fertile portion can be seen rising above the low-lying sterile parts.

These variations provide a means of separating the different species so that they can be identified. It is challenging but The Ferns of Grey and Bruce explains this fully and the illustrations, frond silhouettes and colour pictures facilitate this. There are only 50 species! Hunting for ferns will lead you into a variety of interesting habitats and give you a different view of the natural world.

Author: Owen Sound Field Naturalists

This Publication is currently SOLD OUT! A revision & reprint is scheduled for 2024.

Please direct purchase inquiries to publications@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca

The aim of this book is to encourage people to recognize the trees
surrounding them. With greater appreciation, an understanding of their
importance to the community will develop and, hopefully, this will encourage
residents in the future to make every effort to maintain this urban forest
in a healthy condition.

The book includes sections on the history of the urban forest and its
values, how this project began, and the relationship of Owen Sound’s urban
forest to the natural forest regions of Ontario.

Some 87 trees and large shrubs are described, of which 41% are not native to
North America; 10% are Carolinian; 6% are native to North America but not
native to Ontario or the Carolinian Forest; and the remaining 43% are native
to Grey County. Many publications are currently available to help readers
identify native species, but very few are available to identify non-native
or introduced species which are typically found in urban areas such as Owen
Sound. This makes this publication very useful and not only in Owen Sound.
Most cities in eastern North America have planted the same species.

There is a written description of each species. Key identification features
are bolded. Background information is given for each tree such as uses of
the wood, how named, and preferred habitat. Sometimes specific addresses are
provided where good examples can be seen. Also included with permission are
many photos and line drawings of leaves, needles, fruits, flowers, etc. from
“Native Trees of Canada” by Hosie and “Trees in Canada” by Farrar.

An identification key has been developed for the book to allow
identification to be undertaken in a systematic way.

Another attribute is the inclusion of 4 walking tours of Owen Sound. These
are complete with detailed maps and street names and addresses where
excellent examples of the various tree species can be seen first hand. All
trees can be viewed from the street without infringing on the privacy of
residents.

This 105 page publication has a full page for each of the 48 species that have been reported from Bruce and Grey counties. These pages have anecdotal information as well as a systematic description of the plant and its habitat, accompanied by diagrams of the plant and the individual flower. Shown here is the page for the Calypso orchid. The format is the same for all species. In addition, the book has a centre section with a colour picture of each flower taken by the late Dr. Donald R. Gunn and reproduced by courtesy of the Royal Botanical Garden.

Bruce and Grey counties are a unique area, with the Niagara escarpment running throughout. Georgian Bay is on one side and the main body of Lake Huron on the other. The high calcium content of the escarpment rocks dominates the soils and wetlands. All of these factors combine to create a variety of habitats suited to the 48 species of orchid that have been recorded. This is over two thirds of the Ontario list and one more than the number found in the whole of northwestern Europe.

Visitors to this area most often first notice the Yellow and the Showy Lady’s Slippers growing along the roadside in late spring. Another Lady’s Slipper, that is much less common, can be found in shaded locations near Lake Huron on the west side of the Peninsula, usually in the last week in May. This is the Ram’s Head, so called because the shape of the flower is reminiscent of a charging ram.  Soon after the Lady’s Slippers a number of orchids start to appear in the fens along the Lake Huron shore. One of the most striking is the Bog Candles, a tall spike of small shining flowers rising from a watery bed. Even more amazing is the colour of the Grass Pink. If you look carefully, you will see that the lip of this orchid is at the top, unlike all the others. The reason is that this is the only species that does not twist during its development.  A little later comes the attractive Rose Pogonia. Fairly common in swampy areas or wet meadows, sometimes even in roadside ditches, is the Small Purple Fringed Orchis with its cluster of dime-sized bright pinkish-purple flowers. It can be found in flower from June to mid-August.  Mostly much later in the season, in a variety of habitats from fens to more wooded areas, the Spiranthes or Ladies Tresses appear. There are several species which all have a spike of small cream coloured flowers which characteristically twist round the stem – hence the common name.

Orchids are the most highly evolved group of flowering plants. Not only are they completely dependent on associated fungi, which was the reason horticulturalists took so long to work out how to grow them from seed; but they have also evolved in tandem with insects. They are dependent on them for fertilization. There are various strategies to achieve this but, in some, the flowers actually mimic insects and these are often not brightly coloured. The Broad Lipped Twayblade is a good example of this, as it resembles a whitish moth.
Orchids produce millions of tiny seeds. Air samples from the Arctic contain orchid seeds, but they will only grow in company with their symbiotic fungi and in exactly the right environmental conditions. For this reason, if you wish to grow native orchids you should obtain them from a native plant nursery. On no account should they ever be transplanted from the wild. Purchase ’ The Orchids of Bruce and Grey and then come and enjoy finding them in their native habitat. Remember to tread lightly and leave everything as you find it, especially if you are taking photographs.

Author: Owen Sound Field Naturalists

Sole distributor for books published by the Owen Sound Field Naturalists is:

The Ginger Press
848 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON,  N4K 2H3
Phone: (519) 376-4233
Fax: (519) 376-9871
maryann@gingerpress.com
www.gingerpress.com

The most comprehensive storefront operation for nature books within day-trip distance (Toronto).

Open Air Books
25 Toronto Street (Yonge St. and King St.).
Phone: 1.800.360.9185.
Open Air Books will accept phone orders (credit card) and will ship for reasonable rate).

Some books mentioned are out-of-print, but don’t despair! Victoria, B.C.- based Advanced Book Exchange (ABE) is the largest, most comprehensive, centralized used book internet database in the world. ABE does not sell books – used booksellers across North America list their inventories with ABE. If you want to find ANY book, this is the place! Highly recommended!

www.abebooks.com/

Zoo Book Sales, an American online natural history book specialist, has many quality titles for the discerning naturalist.

www.zoobooksales.com/

The Canadian Museum of Nature sells a variety of general-interest and scientific publications online.

www.nature.ca/prodserv/cat/index.cfm?&displayLang=en