Tree Fern Species Diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area is Thriving

摘要

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of tree fern species being cultivated outdoors in the SF Bay Area, with at least 28 known species in various public and private gardens. Reports from earlier in the 1900's show only a modest increase in diversity, but the last 25 years reveal the accelerated rate of introduction of new species. This acceleration can be largely accredited to two things: a growing number of fern enthusiasts growing from spore, and the availability of the internet, which has facilitated communication and spore transfer among the members of the fern community.