A fern that emerges in early spring, Rattlesnake Fern (Botrypus virginianus). A deciduous perennial that is made up of a lone, triangle shaped sterile leaf. The leaf, being triangular, gives the impression of being three separate leaves.

On some of the Rattlesnake Ferns one more leaf is produced in late spring, a fertile leaf, growing directly from the base of the original, sterile leaf. During the summer, spores are released and distributed by the wind.

These fertile leaves are beautiful, the sporangia, which contain the spores, look like small green beads growing in precise lines along the leaflets.

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