About Phegopteris connectilis (Michx.) Watt
Phegopteris connectilis (Michx.) Watt is a perennial pinnately lobed pteridophyte. It grows between 10 and 50 centimeters tall, and has a thin rootstock. Its thin leaf-stalk is 1 to 2 times the length of its leaf blade. The leaf blade is somewhat horizontal and triangular in shape; it is pinnately compound at the base, and becomes pinnatisect above this section. Leaflets are narrow and pinnately lobed, with narrow lobes that are hairy on their underside. The lowest pair of leaflets points diagonally upward. Sporangia are located on the underside of the leaves. This species is typically apogamous, with a chromosome count of n=90, which corresponds to a triploid with 3n=90. Phegopteris connectilis prefers wet habitats, including stream sides, spring areas, coniferous swamps, and eutrophic paludified hardwood-spruce forests called lehtokorpi in Finnish. Unlike its close relative Phegopteris hexagonoptera, which is only terrestrial, this species can grow both as an epipetric and terrestrial plant. It can grow at the bases of rocks and in crevices of shady, moist rock walls. The species requires moderate levels of nutrients in its growing substrate, and does not tolerate acidic soil. It favors shady habitats and avoids logging sites, where it is also prone to frost damage.
