S-V Photo Challenge #35 | Fronds, the leaf of a fern by @patjewell

^{Fern leave called "fronds"}

Walking on the patio this afternoon I saw the most beautiful picture of the sunshine captured by the green leaves of one of the ferns leaving the sporangium on the underside of the leaves clearly to be seen.

The leaves almost appeared translucent and to be dancing in the sunlight.

I just had to capture it and then I remember the invite I received from my Steemian friend @nexcis to take part in this contest. So, here I am.

Sporangium is formed from a Greek word which means “seed”. It is the little “black dots” or capsules under the leaves. The spores reproduce from these capsules. Spores are the reproductive cells which can grow into a new organism or plant.

A group or cluster of sporangium is called a “sori”.

^{A cluster of sporangium}

I have seen these capsules many times before and I've always been fascinated by the perfect placing on the leaves. I’ve also noticed that they are not always on all the leaves nor on all the ferns.

If your fern is planted in rich wet soil and where there is light the sporangium will grow into full plants.

And that brings me back to the leaves of the fern which is called “fronds”.
The shape, size and textures of these leaves differs from species to species.

Fronds are different to normal leaves from plants.

Normal plants – the leaves assist with photosynthesis
Ferns – the leaves assist with photosynthesis and reproduction

Sometimes the fronds are also referred to as “fiddleheads”.

Commonly the fronts of ferns start as a little ball which then grow and change shape. Before it change into a full leaf it looks like the neck of a violin. That is then also the stage in which they are called “fiddleheads”.

The biggest advantage the leaves of ferns have for humans is that it purifies the air.

Next time when visiting a plant nursery make sure you put a fern on your trolley.

^{The leaves dancing in the sunlight}

I invite:
@ngoenyi
@dorismos
@udyliciouz