The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a deciduous fern that thrives in wet, riparian and swamp conditions at any elevation. They are twice pinnate and fronds can grow to two meters tall, erect and clustered. The fronds are lancolate and taper at both ends, and pinnae are in 20-40 pairs that have a single attachment to the axis. Fronds resemble sword ferns but are more ‘football’-shaped, tapering at both ends
Not to be confused with the shield fern, the lady fern tapers toward the base at both ends, while the shield fern is more triangular-shaped. Sori are curved and elongated.
- Fronds can get to 2 meters tall and are twice pinnate, clustered and erect
- Fronds are lancolate and taper at both ends
- 20-40 pairs of pinnae attached at one point on the axis
- Thrives in wet, riparian and swampy conditions
