Dryopteris cristata

Inhabitant of undisturbed wetlands with overwintering sterile fronds

Dryopteris cristata crested fern

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA

A web of veins on the bluish-green pinnae gives this fern a firm-textured, leathery appearance.  The pinnae are parallel to the ground and form a staircase on the stem.  Smaller sterile fronds overwinter.

Swamps, edges of wetlands, shade or sun; in subacidic soils

Range is from Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Kentucky and Arkasas and into northern Idaho.

Wetland codes
EMP: FACW
NCNE: OBL



Fertile fronds  taller, erect, narrow and do not overwinter. Pinnae are widely spaced and oriented horizontally.

Sterile fronds shorter, spreading, slightly broader than fertile fronds, and are evergreen.

Pinnae  fertile pinnae parallel to the ground.  Lowest pair of pinnae broadly triangular on both sterile and fertile fronds.  Lower pinnae are widely spaced. Cut into 6 or so pairs of blunt-tipped lobes, some almost to costa.

Rachis  green, stout, slightly scaly on lower parts.

Stipe  about 10 in long with scattered,  light brown scales.

Rhizome dark brown, creeping, with many brown scales.

Sori  prominent, on upper pinnae between midvein and margin.  Indusium not glandular.

Blunt triangular basal pinnae, narrow erect fertile fronds.  Sterile fronds overwinter.

Pinnae lobe tips (or near) may have serrated margins with bristle-tipped teeth and are an indication of a Crested fern hybrid.

S-rank:  No rank
G-rank:  G5 (Secure)

Dryopteris cristata crested fern

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA
Dryopteris cristata gallery
Plant Life-Form
perennial fern
Common Names
crested fern crested wood fern