Blechnum gibbum

dwarf tree fern

An interesting specimen because the ferns we see most often do not have trunks. Dwarf tree fern is a very slow-growing plant that enjoys shade and moisture. The Fern Division (Pteridophyta), to which this plant belongs, was the predominant group of plants on the earth in prehistoric times and the source of most of the coal and oil used for energy today. Here is a pretty interesting video explaining a bit about where our gasoline comes from, how we extract it, and some of the factors involved in the cost of what we pay for at the pump: