The fern I have photographed here is called a bracken. Bracken is an alternative word for the word fern. The bracken has a particular leaf configuration dissimilar to other ferns. That being said, there are many different kinds of brackens spread worldwide.
The white leaf or limb on this bracken is a form of plant albinism caused by the leaf's inability to produce chlorophyll.
The part of a plant that should produce chlorophyll but does not will die prematurely. In small plants the albinism can cause the whole plant to die.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.