sensitive fern
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of sensitive fern
An Americanism dating back to 1805–15; so called from the sensitivity of its foliage to frost
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Several species grow in our woods, including the ubiquitous sensitive fern, the unusual Goldie’s fern and the finely textured lady fern with its attractive reddish midstem.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2012
Horehound, horsemint, and the sensitive fern grew close to the edge, under the willows and alders, and wool-grass on the islands, as along the Assabet River in Concord.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 08, June 1858 by Various
The sensitive fern is so called from its being very sensitive to frost.
From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by George Henry Tilton
The sensitive fern has a running rootstock, scattered fronds, and netted veins; while the ostrich fern has an upright rootstock, fronds in crowns, and free veins.
From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by George Henry Tilton
Here may also be mentioned, as having similar habit, artichokes, peppermint, spearmint, barberry, Indian hemp, bindweed, toadflax, matrimony vine, bugle-weed, ostrich fern, eagle fern, sensitive fern, coltsfoot, St. John'swort, sorrel, great willow-herb, and many more.
From Seed Dispersal by W. J. (William James) Beal
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
