Small is beautiful

Sporangium and spores of fern Polypody (microscope x100)

In the silence of winter, the coming explosion of spring and summer life is being prepared in secret.

Let’s have a look to polypody to see the sporangia that are maturing.

Sores (groups of sporangia) of fern Polypody (magnifier x10)

Sores (groups of sporangia) of fern Polypody

Under the microscope here are the spores, beans like, protected by the membrane of sporangium which has a specific structure like a zip. After warmer days which will cause deshydratation this structure will lead to the opening of the sporangium and the realease of spores. Then the cycle will go on:

The name Polypodium comes from the Greck poly « numerous », and podion « small foot » after the small « roots » of the rhizoma.

Polypody has traditional uses in cooking for its aroma and sweet taste close to liquorice, and in herbal medicine as a purgative and vermifuge.

I wish you a 2018 year as wonderful, lively, sweet, full of hope and abundance than this tiny little fern.