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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Giant Chain fern
Woodwardia fimbriata J.E. Smith

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Fern (Polypodiaceae)
Spores: May-June
Field Marks: This fern is recognized by its large pinnate-pinnatifid leaves and its elongated sori borne in two rows that parallel the vein.
Habitat: Along streams, moist woods, bogs, springs.
Habit: Perennial fern with a stout, woody, shiny, brown rhizome.
Stems: All underground as rhizomes.
Leaves: Upright, up to 9 feet tall, often forming a circle, pinnately divided, with each segment further deeply divided, the segments pointed at the tip, with minutely spiny teeth, smooth or with resin glands.
Sori: Elongated, borne in 2 rows, 1 on either side of the vein.

Previous Species -- Hairy Water Fern (Marsilea uestita)
Return to Species List -- Group 1

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/1/woodfimb.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:23:38 EST
Reston, VA [vaww54]