# Fern species

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 24, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629 "2008-04-24T01:19:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/1 "2008-04-24T01:19:42Z")

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What is the fern that volunteers from bags of Canadian peat?

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**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/2 "2008-04-24T08:19:10Z")

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As you are probably aware, most ferns can self-propagate by dropping their spores onto whatever growing medium supports them. Can you advise why you refer specifically to Canadian peat?

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/3 "2008-04-24T11:46:34Z")

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A picture is needed, because many different ferns could grow from that.

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/4 "2008-04-24T12:05:54Z")

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What color are the fiddleheads? Check [this](http://ontarioferns.com/index.php) site for Ontario ferns and some pics…any look familiar?

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/5 "2008-04-24T12:54:25Z")

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[QUOTE=Phlosphr]  
any look familiar?  
[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I’ll compare after work today.

Chez: They sprout in tubs of Sarracenia planted in peat labeled as being from Canada.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fern-species/446629/6 "2008-04-24T22:37:48Z")

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I believe it is [silvery glade fern.](http://ontarioferns.com/main/species.php?id=4033)  
Thanks!