Safeplants

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bulblet bladderfern

Scientific Name: Cystopteris bulbifera

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Category: Fern

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: NY (bulblet fern)

Cystopteris bulbifera, commonly known as Bulblet Bladder Fern, is a delicate and intriguing fern appreciated for its unique reproductive strategy.

This fern produces bulbils on the undersides of its leaflets, which could potentially be ingested by pets.

The plant produces bulbils on the undersides of the fronds, starting as microscopic dots and growing larger. These small parts might be of interest to children.

Scientific Name: Cystopteris bulbifera (L.) Bernh.
Common Names: Bulblet Bladder Fern, Berry Bladder Fern, Bladder Fern, Bulblet Fern
Family: Athyriaceae (also mentioned as Dryopteridaceae in some sources)
Genus: Cystopteris Bernh.
Synonyms: Felix bulbifera, Polypodium bulbiferum
French Name: Cystoptre

This North American fern is often found growing in calciferous soils, particularly near streams and on shattered limestone rocks.
Specifically, it has been observed in locations such as Washington Co., Maryland, and Algonquin, where rare limestone formations exist.

Cystopteris bulbifera is a deciduous fern, meaning it loses its leaves seasonally.
It grows to a height and spread of approximately 0.2 meters (8 inches) but can have fronds up to 75 cm (30 inches).
It forms loose rosettes of ascending to widely spreading compound leaves.
The plant has creeping stems and narrow, elongate deltate fronds.
A key feature is the presence of bulbils, small bulb-like structures, on the undersides of the fronds.

In some areas, such as Washington Co., Maryland, Bulblet Bladder Fern is on the state watchlist, indicating potential conservation concerns.