Oak Fern |
Gymnocarpium dryopteris |
![]() Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Widespread but sporadic in woods. Also among rocks in the mountains. Frond c 10-40 cm long ID: Leafy part of frond triangular in shape, and held horizontally on a vertical stalk. Lower basal pinnule on lowest pinna about equal in size to third pinna from base. (Neither of these characters visible in pic on left owing to cramped conditions of plant, but are shown well in pic below) Other features: Sori small and near the margins. Stalks blackish. Frond rolled into 3 balls when young. Not tufted, fronds arise singly. |
![]() Photo ©
Carl Farmer |