Woodwardia

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Blechnaceae

• Scientific Name

  Woodwardia

• Description

  Genus Description - Petiole about equaling the blade, with 2–several bundles; lvs monomorphic or dimorphic, pinnatifid to pinnate-pinnatifid, the fertile ones, when differentiated, with linear segments; blade sparsely scaly and glandular on the rachis and costae, otherwise glabrous; veins partly anastomosing, forming one or more series of areoles along the midvein of the pinnae or segment; sori superficial (our spp.) or often set in pits, oblong to linear, spanning 2 or more areoles, arranged in a chain-like row on each side of the costa; large bog-ferns with coarse, long-creeping rhizomes and scattered, erect, deciduous lvs. 10, mainly N. Hemisphere.

• Common Names

  chain-fern