Polystichum munitum – sword fern
Common Name
sword fern
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Scientific Name
Polystichum munitum
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
- Medium (M)
- Wet (W)
Soil Nutrient Regime (SNR)
- Rich (R)
Video link
Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Manual © 1973. Reprinted with permission of the University of Washington Press.
Photo Gallery
General / Habitat
- Large, evergreen fern with erect leaves
- Abundant and widespread in moist forests
- Low to middle elevations
Key Identifying Characteristics
- Form: Up to 1.5 m tall
- Leaves; Erect leaves form crown shape, singly-pinnate fronds, leaflets (or pinnae) have small lobe at base pointing toward tip of fern, leaflets attach to rachis by a short stalk
- Sori: Large, circular sori with round indusium
Lookalikes
- Deer fern (Blechnum spicant)
- Smaller
- Leaflets are attached to rachis along their whole base, not on a stalk
External References
Sources
Douglas, G.W. et al (Editors). 1998-2002. Illustrated Flora of British Columbia, Volumes 1 to 8. B.C. Min. Environ., Lands and Parks, and B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.
Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon. 2014. Plants of Coastal British Columbia Including Washington, Oregon & Alaska. B.C. Ministry of Forestry and Lone Pine Publishing. Vancouver, B.C.