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Cibotium regale: Furry fern
To determine what species a particular fern belongs to, a magnifying glass is
obligatory. The sporangia on the fronds usually provide one clue; another are
the scales or hairs with which various parts of the fern are covered. These
take many forms, from spiky bristles, ribbon-like bands, and scales to long,
silky hairs.
In the fern genus Cibotium, the hair cover is so thick at the base of
the frond stalks that the entire trunk appears to be wrapped in a shiny, silky,
copper-colored coat. Not surprisingly, some call Cibotium the „sheep“ of
the fern family. Unlike wool, this „hair“ has no commercial value. In the 19th
century, entrepreneurs in Hawaii tried to commercialise Cibotium hair and
selling it in the United States as stuffing for pillows and matresses. However,
it was soon discovered that the hair absorbed moisture and quickly crumbled into
dust, so the Victorians had to look elsewhere for their upholstery.
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Cibotium regale: Furry fern (MP3, 445 KB)
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