Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
4. Polypodiaceae, the Polypody Family
3. Dryopteris Adans. -- Shield fern2. Dryopteris cristata (L.) A. Gray -- Crested fern
Fronds somewhat dimorphic, clumped, the outer sterile fronds smaller than the inner fertile ones and persisting longer during winter, the fertile fronds 3-8 dm tall; blades pinnate-pinnatifid to nearly bipinnate, narrowly lanceolate, 2-6 dm long, 7-15 cm wide, acuminate, narrowed at the base; pinnae as in the preceding, except ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, only once-pinnately lobed; pinnules toothed, mostly 4-15 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, usually spinulose. Jun--Sep. Occurring in the same habitats as the preceding; uncommon; e ND, nc NE; (Circumboreal, in N.Amer. s to VA, AR, NE and ID).
Previous Species -- Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H. P. Fuchs -- Spinulose woodfern
Return to Family -- Polypodiaceae - The Polypody Family
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