Ten Day Fern
Bermuda Protected Species
GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDA
Department of Environment & Natural Resources
Rumohra adian formis
Reproduc on and Life Cycle
Ecology
Iden fica on
Ten Day Fern has glossy, hairless, triangular shaped fronds. The
dark green fronds are tough, so it is also known as Leatherleaf
Fern. The pinnae, the lobed leaflets
that make up the frond, are broadly
spaced along the central stem of the
frond, known as the rachis. In this
species, the rachis is grooved and has
scales. The fronds are spaced along a
scaly rhizome that creeps along the
surface of the substrate. Fronds are 1-4
feet long (30-120 cm).
Bri/on, 1918
© Alison Copeland
Current Status
Na ve
Range
Ten Day Fern is na)ve to Bermuda, and has a very wide global
distribu)on. It is also widely propagated for hor)cultural
purposes.
BPSA: Level 2
CITES: No
Habitat
Bda Red List: CR (D)
CMS: No
Author:
Ms. Alison Copeland,
Biodiversity Officer
Revised:
April 2016
The Ten Day Fern grows well in full sun or shade in moist
substrate. It is found in fresh water marshes and was
historically reported from rocky ledges in the Walsingham area,
although it is not known from there now. Today it is found in
Devonshire Marsh where it has been observed growing from
ro-ng tree stumps and out of the trunks of Bermuda
Palme/os.
Ferns do not reproduce by flowers and fruits like other plants.
They produce dust-like spores on the underside of a mature
frond. The spores develop into a small, flat, o0en heart shaped,
prothallus. The prothallus has organs containing eggs and
sperm on its surface. Ferns mostly occur in wet habitats, where
water accumulates on the surface of the prothallus, allowing
the sperm to move across the surface and reach the egg. Once
fer)lisa)on has occurred the sporophyte begins to develop; this
is the mature fern that we see with roots and fronds.
Why protect this species?
Today, this species has become very rare in Bermuda due
destruc)on of its habitat, historical collec)on and compe))on
from invasive plants. The complex life cycle and restric)ve
habitat requirements of this fern make it difficult for
popula)ons to recover once impacted.
Historically, Ten Day Ferns were collected from Devonshire
Marsh for use in flower arrangements at the nearby church. The
micro-habitats used by this fern have been reduced in the
marsh through habitat changes such as fires, increased sal)ness
of the water and the prolifera)on of invasive plants. Only two
individuals of this species have been mapped in Devonshire
marsh, owing to its rarity as well as difficulty in accessing the
habitat.
The species composi)on of the woodland at Walsingham is now
dominated by invasives, so this fern is unlikely to survive
without management if re-introduced there.
Ten Day Fern
Bermuda Protected Species
GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDA
Department of Environment & Natural Resources
Rumohra adian formis
What is being done to conserve it? What you can do?
Protected species Act Lis ng: Level 1, 2012 re-graded to Level
2, 2016
Learn: Learn more about the species. Understand how
destruc)on of habitat leads to loss of Bermuda’s plant and
animal diversity. Tell others what you have learned.
IUCN Red List: Not assessed
Recovery Plan: the main goals in the Plan are to protect and
manage habitat, increase the size and number of popula)ons,
maintain exis)ng popula)ons, conduct field surveys for new
popula)ons and poten)al habitat for introduc)on. Download at
www.environment.bm
Public awareness: lectures on ferns are given to interest groups
several )mes per year.
Research: Research has focused on environmental condi)ons
that affect germina)on and survival. Gene)c work is planned.
Habitat protec on: All known wild specimens are within a
nature reserve.
Monitoring: A global posi)oning system (GPS) survey of the Ten
Day Fern in Devonshire Marsh was ini)ated in December 2011.
Monitoring of the ferns in situ and control of nearby invasive
species is ongoing.
Grow and plant: Plant na)ve and endemic plants on your
property, and encourage your favourite garden centre to carry
them. Do not dig up na)ve plants from natural areas.
Manage: control invasive plants on your property so they don’t
spread to nearby protected areas.
Protec on: As a protected species, any specimen found in a
proposed development area should be relocated to a nature
reserve.
Observa on: If you see a specimen email
[email protected]
Informa on sources
To learn more please visit: www.environment.bm
Ar ficial propor on: Ini)al spore germina)on trials in Bermuda
were very successful, with many young plants produced. It is
an)cipated that the ferns can be grown on into a governmentheld ex situ collec)on as called for in the Recovery Plan. Spore
micropropaga)on has also been carried out at the Henry Doorly
Zoo in Omaha, USA. This has also been successful, resul)ng in a
collec)on of large specimens held off island.
Protec ve legisla on
Protected Species Act (2003)
© Drew Pe-t
Nathaniel L. Bri/on. 1918. Flora of Bermuda. Charles Scribner’s
Sons, New York.
For Further Informa on
Samia Sarkis. 2010. Recovery plan for six fern species from
Bermuda (Diplazium laffanianum (Baker) C. Chr, Goniopteris
bermudiana (Baker) comb., Cteni s sloanei (Poepp. Ex Spreng.),
Asplenium heterochroum Kunze, Asplenium dentatum L.,
Rumohra adian formis (G. Forst.) J. Department of
Conserva)on Services, Government of Bermuda. 27 pages
#17 North Shore Road, Flatt’s, FL04,
Bermuda T (441) 293 2727.
www.environment.bm
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is
based on the knowledge and understanding at the time of
writing.