Sword Fern in Spring

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The Sword Fern is a common plant in the rain forests in the Vancouver area and along the Pacific West Coast. They are found in areas that have a soggy thick soil and plenty of shade. The plant is shown in the process of growing to its final height of about a metre and a half. When photographed, these plants were maybe half a metre tall. Although these look to be the source of the tasty "fiddleheads" (which come from the similar looking Ostrich Fern), these are not at all appetizing. After considerable steaming or baking, they can be eaten but are considered only "starvation food".

The camera included the following information in the image file:

 File name            	:DSC_2627.NEF
 File size            	:7.7MB (8100838 bytes)
 Date taken           	:Mon, 29 Apr, 2002 11:57:03 AM
 Image size           	:3008 x 1960
 Resolution           	:300 x 300 dpi
 Number of bits       	:12 bits/channel
 Protection           	:Off
 Camera ID            	:N/A
 Camera               	:NIKON D1X
 Quality mode         	:HI (5.4M Raw Uncompressed)
 Metering mode        	:Matrix
 Exposure mode        	:Aperture priority
 Speed light          	:Off
 Focal length         	:105.0 mm
 Shutter speed        	:1/180 seconds
 Aperture             	:F11.0
 Exposure compensation	:-1.0 EV
 White Balance        	:Cloudy
 Lens                 	:105 mm F2.8
 Flash sync mode      	:N/A
 Exposure difference  	:0.0 EV
 Flexible program     	:No
 Sensitivity          	:ISO200
 Sharpening           	:None
 Image Type           	:Color
 Color Mode           	:Mode 2 (Adobe RGB)
 Hue adjustment       	:3
 Saturation Control   	:N/A
 Tone compensation    	:Less contrast
 Latitude(GPS)        	:N/A
 Longitude(GPS)       	:N/A
 Altitude(GPS)        	:N/A