Photos and Characteristics of Wetland Plant Species > This Category

Dryopteris cristata ~ crested shield fern

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Characteristics:

• OBL

• Michigan C Value: 6

• also known as crested wood fern

• fronds relatively narrow

• leathery leaves

• twice divided

• widely–spaced, tilted leaflets (like louvered blinds)

• spore dots (sori) on the underside of pinnae

• sori are round and are usually lined up in two rows

• sori midway between midvein and leaf edge

• fronds dimorphic

• fertile fronds with deciduous pinnae and can be relatively large

• fertile fronds often have highly–louvered pinnae

• sterile fronds smaller, forming persistent, evergreen rosette

• often in bogs, but common in many botanical community types

• native