Day 201: Fern fiddleheads (young shoots) come in a fascinating array of shapes. While several species are considered edible, I do not collect them and would caution my readers against doing so. They must be properly prepared to remove the fine hairs which are irritating to the digestive system. I took a "fern walk" yesterday so that I could show you some of the various types of fiddlehead. Left to right: Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris), a very soft-textured fern when fully unfurled; Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), familiar to most people for its leathery, harsh foliage; Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum), arguably the most common fern in the Pacific Northwest and in fact one of the most abundant plant species in the world.
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