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Adiantum pedatum - (image 1 of 7)

Taxonomy

Family: Pteridaceae

Habitat

Moist, calcareous woods that are well-shaded. Often in ravines.

Associates

Acer saccharum, Cornus alternifolia, Fraxinus americana, Lindera benzoin, Quercus rubra, Staphylea trifolia, Tilia americana, Ulmus americana

Distribution

Most of the eastern and central US except FL and TX.

Morphology

Plant to 50 cm tall. Stalk dark, dividing once before the leaves. Leaves blue-green, 5-6 coming from each division of the stalk. Sori 1-5, borne on the upper margins of the leaflets (Image 4).

Notes

Spores produced in July

Wetland Indicator: Facultative -

Listed as exploitably vulnerable in NY. The unique fan-like shape of the frond is unmistakable.

References

Cobb, B. 1984. A Field Guide to Ferns and Their Related Families.

Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, NY

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

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