Common Name: Crested Woodfern
(or shield fern)

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Description: A hardy, evergreen type of fern that needs shade. Fronds are narrow and fertile fronds are erect with horizontal leaflets while the sterile, spreading fronds are shorter. The lower leaflets appear more triangular and smaller. The kidney-shaped spore case clusters are crowded. This fern grows in damp woods, marshes and swamps in acid or boggy type soils.

Distribution: al,ct,de,ga,id,il,in,io,me,md,ma,mi,mn,mo,mt,me,
nh,nj,ny,nc,nd,oh,pa,ri,tn,vt,va,wa,wv,wi