Fiddlehead

Featured in Nature Photography Challenge on July 5th, 2010.
4th Place Win in the Spring in Ontario challenge in the Ontario group on June 4th, 2010.
Featured in Nature Photography Challenge on April 3rd, 2010.
3rd Place Winner of the Top Of The Morning To You challenge in the Nature Photography Challenge group on April 1st, 2010.
Featured in Forests on November 13th,2009.

A close-up image of the curled up top (or ‘fiddlehead’) of a frond of an Ostrich Fern
(Matteuccia struthiopteris).

Captured in early spring on a forest walk through Heber Downs Conservation Area in Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

Taken with a Canon Digital Rebel using an 18-55mm lens. No post-processing.

Viewed 284 times as of August 28, 2010.

The fiddleheads of ostrich ferns are edible, though they should be eaten in moderation as all ferns contain a certain level of carcinogens. These ferns are common throughout Ontario, growing in forested areas with rich, damp soil.