Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia

Other common names: American Shield Fern, Common Wood Fern, Evergreen Wood Fern

Other scientific names: Aspidium intermedium

French names: Dryoptère intermédiare  

Family: Wood Fern Family (Dryopteridaceae)

Group: Wood Ferns

Distinctive features: Main stalk has glands and is finely hairy.

Similar species:
  •   Spinulose Wood Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) - very similar.
  •   Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
  •   Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
  •   Crested Shield Fern (Dryopteris cristata) - leaflets leathery.
  •   Goldie's Fern (Dryopteris goldiana)

Leaves: Evergreen, Thrice divided

Habitat: Forests

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Notes: Easily confused with Spinulose Wood Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana).

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: intermedia: intermediate

For more information visit: Ontario Ferns

Photographs: 53 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 The innermost two lower leaflets, right by the stem, on the lowest branch, are shorter than the ones beside them. THIS IS A KEY IDENTIFYING FEATURE TO DIFFERENTIATE Intermediate Wood Fern FROM Spinulose Wood Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana). Other than this characteristic, the two species look virtually identical!

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 A frond.

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Overall form. Note that on the upper branches of the frond, the lower innermost pinna are NOT shorter than the rest on the branch!

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Three fronds growing from a single root in the woods. Wood Ferns like the deep woods.

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Sori on the underside of a frond.

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Herbarium specimen showing the overall growth form.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Herbarium specimen.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Herbarium specimen showing the underside of the leaflets.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

 Herbarium specimen showing the root.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Range map for Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)

 

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