Ferns are a group of plants that are frequently overlooked. They neither bloom nor bear fruit, growing humbly amongst the grasses. Occasionally, when an individual upturns a leaf to reveal dense clusters of sporangia, these are often mistaken for terrifying insect eggs. Despite having flourished on Earth since the age of the dinosaurs, ferns remain largely unfamiliar and ignored by the public. In reality, the world of ferns is brimming with fascinating and mysterious narratives.
Their ancestors were among the first plants to stand tall on land and served as a vital food source for herbivorous dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. While those towering ancestral ferns have evolved into the diminutive descendants we observe today, they remain widely utilised by humans. Their unique reproductive methods once led early Europeans to obsessively and superstitiously search for their ‘seeds’. Furthermore, the enchanting forms of various fern fronds fuelled the ‘Pteridomania’ (fern fever) of the Victorian era.
Today, ferns still grow all around us, surviving tenaciously within the crevices of our cities. We invite you to slow down, take a closer look at the secrets hidden behind these small plants, and experience these exquisite creations of nature.
