Dryopteris marginalis

Marginal Wood Fern

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Family: Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: June - September

Marginal Wood Fern is evergreen, which makes it easier to find and identify in the winter. It grows from a clump and may have dead fronds accumulated under it. Marginal Wood Fern's stipes are about 1/4 the length of the frond and are covered in bright golden scales; the basal pinnules are longer than adjacent pinnules. Its sori (spore structures) are near the margins of its segments.

Key ID features:

• fronds are evergreen and mostlybipinnate
• eachstipeis about 1/4 length of overall fern, covered in golden-brown scales when mature
• thesoriare circular, alongmarginsof pinnules

9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	21 November 2015 Scott's Run Nature Preserve, McLean, VA (underside showing spore structures)
9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (underside showing spore structures)	9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (underside showing spore structures)	9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (underside showing spore structures)	9 November 2021 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (showing golden-brown stipe scales)

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