2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Gymnocarpium (lat. Gymnocarpium) - an ornamental-leaved perennial belonging to the Bubble family. The second name is golokuchnik.
Description
Gymnocarpium is a long-rooted forest fern, single leaves of which can be either twice or thrice pinnately dissected. At the same time, it is almost impossible to find any differences between fruiting and sterile leaves. By the way, with the onset of the winter season, foliage always dies off. And the height of this fern usually ranges from ten centimeters to half a meter.
Branched thin rhizomes of the hymnocarpium spread out in different directions. They perfectly tolerate any frost, and with the onset of spring, young leaves begin to grow from them, which initially curl into small spirals.
Tiny oblong or rounded sori are located separately from each other and are found only on the seamy sides of the leaf blades. At the same time, they have no coverlets at all - this feature distinguishes them from most other varieties of ferns.
In total, the genus Gymnocarpium has nine species.
Where grows
Gymnocarpium is very widespread in the Northern Hemisphere - it can often be seen on the edges and near ravines, as well as along the banks of swamps or streams. Slightly less often, this fern is found on rocky slopes or rocks.
Usage
Gymnocarpium is often planted in rockeries, trying to place it at the foot of the hills on the north side. It is especially useful as a ground cover plant. In general, this incomparable fern is able to fit perfectly into a wide variety of styles and directions of landscape design.
Growing and caring
Gymnocarpium boasts quite impressive cold resistance and shade-lovingness, so you can safely plant it on loose damp soils. However, good clay or loamy garden soils will be especially preferred for its cultivation.
From spring to autumn, the soil must be constantly kept moist, and if the summer is particularly hot, the number and volume of irrigation should be noticeably increased, trying in every possible way to prevent waterlogging of the soil.
As for dressings, the hymnocarpium does not need them at all. He does not need winter shelter either, however, this rule is relevant only if the temperature does not fall below minus forty degrees. If more severe frosts burst out, it will not hurt to thoroughly mulch the persistent fern with foliage.
Gymnocarpium is endowed with the ability to grow very quickly, gradually going beyond the areas designated for its growth. Therefore, in order to prevent "self-capture", unnecessary copies must be removed in a timely manner. And if the color of the fern leaves becomes lighter, this indicates an excess of lighting - in this case, the plant should be shaded.
Hymnocarpium is propagated mainly by segments of rhizomes, while each segment must contain at least one bud of renewal. This is usually done either at the end of spring (to be more precise, at the beginning of May), or closer to the very end of summer. By the way, you can divide the plants every two or three years! And some breeders went even further and learned how to grow hymnocarpium directly from spores!
Sometimes hymnocarpium can be affected by slugs with snails. In principle, these pests will not cause much damage to the wonderful fern in any case, however, the numerous holes and specks that appear on its leaves will adversely affect its decorative effect.
