Ostrich fern

Ostrich fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Wood Fern Family - Dryopteridaceae

Leaves cut into 40 or more alternating pairs of narrow and pointed leaflets. Each leaflet further deeply cut into 30 or more alternating pairs of subleaflets or lobes. Central fertile leaves highly modified with thick rolled margins encasing the fruitdots. (Photographed at Eagle Lake - August 16, 2002)

� Pathology Images Inc. 2002 2002

Generally a tall (up to 1.5 metres) fern with gently arching, ostrich-plume-like sterile leaves. Leaves pointed, widest above the middle and gradually tapering so that the base stalk is considerably shorter than the blade. Stalk distinctly grooved in front.