ferns
Spore-bearing vascular plants
Ferns are flowerless plants that reproduce through spores rather than seeds, typically having feathery fronds that unfurl from tight coils called fiddleheads.
They thrive in shady, moist environments: The forest floor was thick with ferns.
Ferns are ancient plants, predating dinosaurs, and remain popular in gardens and as houseplants.
Large, segmented plant blade
- rhizomeHorizontal underground plant stem
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- sporangiaSpore-bearing plant organs
- fiddleheadUnfurling fern frond
pinnate · bipinnate · stipe · rachis · pinnae · gametophyte · vascular · annulus
Forest's lower vegetation tier
- shadeDarkness from blocked light
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- humidContaining much moisture
- woodlandForested land area
tropical · temperate · epiphyte · terrestrial · streambank · ravine · rockery · bog
Indoor ornamental greenery
- terrariumGlass-walled growing enclosure
- hanging basketElevated container for plants
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
- floristSeller of cut blooms
arrangement · greenery · ornamental · landscaping · shade garden · foliage · container · wreath
Preserved ancient organism
- CarboniferousCoal-depositing geological period
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- DevonianGeologic period, 419-359 million years ago
- PermianLate Paleozoic geological period
coal · ancient · petrified · paleobotany · swamp forest
frond
Large, segmented plant blade
- rhizomeHorizontal underground plant stem
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- sporangiaSpore-bearing plant organs
fiddlehead · pinnate · bipinnate · stipe · rachis · pinnae · gametophyte · vascular · annulus
understory
Forest's lower vegetation tier
woodland · tropical · temperate · epiphyte · terrestrial · streambank · ravine · rockery · bog · rainforest
houseplant
Indoor ornamental greenery
- terrariumGlass-walled growing enclosure
- hanging basketElevated container for plants
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
florist · arrangement · greenery · ornamental · landscaping · shade garden · foliage · container · wreath · pressed
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- CarboniferousCoal-depositing geological period
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- DevonianGeologic period, 419-359 million years ago
Permian · coal · ancient · petrified · paleobotany · swamp forest
bracken
Coarse, spreading fern
- staghornBranching cervid headgear
- maidenhairDelicate woodland fern
- ostrichLargest living bird
- foresttrees, pine, oak, woods, wood
- plantstree, plants, leaves, bluebonnet, trees
- rainforestrainforest, jungle, tropical, tropics, canopy
- forest featurespine trees, redwoods, old-growth forest, oak trees, sequoias
- forest floorfallen leaves, leaf litter, dead leaves, rotting wood, rotting logs
- forest imageryforests, woodlands, trees, groves, glades
fernsflowering plants
Seed-bearing plants with blooms
angiosperms · seed plants · gymnosperms · conifers · roses
- Boston fernsFeathery tropical houseplant
- tiny fernMiniature spore-bearing plant
- wild fern
- tree fernArborescent spore-bearer
- fiddlehead fernImmature coiled frond
- silver fernWhite-underleafed tree frond