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log fern

Leaves

monomorphic, dying back in winter, 65–120 × 15–30 cm.

Petiole

1/3 length of leaf, scaly at least at base;

scales scattered, dark brown or tan with dark central stripe.

Blade

green, ovate-lanceolate, gradually tapering to tip, pinnate-pinnatifid, herbaceous, not glandular.

Pinnae

± in plane of blade, lanceolate-ovate;

basal pinnae linear-oblong, much reduced, basal pinnules longer than adjacent pinnules, basal basiscopic pinnule and basal acroscopic pinnule equal;

pinnule margins crenately toothed.

Indusia

lacking glands.

Sori

midway between midvein and margin of segments.

2n

= 164.

Dryopteris celsa

Habitat Seepage slopes, hammocks and logs in swamps, mostly on the Piedmont and Coastal Plain
Elevation 50–800 m (200–2600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; DE; GA; IL; KY; LA; MD; MI; MO; NC; NJ; NY; PA; SC; TN; VA; WV
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Discussion

Dryopteris celsa is a fertile allotetraploid derived from hybridization between D. goldieana and D. ludoviciana. Dryopteris celsa hybridizes with six species; hybrids can usually be identified by the dark-striped scales.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Dryopteridaceae > Dryopteris
Sibling taxa
D. arguta, D. campyloptera, D. carthusiana, D. cinnamomea, D. clintoniana, D. cristata, D. expansa, D. filix-mas, D. fragrans, D. goldieana, D. intermedia, D. ludoviciana, D. marginalis
Synonyms D. goldiana subsp. celsa
Name authority (W. Palmer) Knowlton: W. Palmer, & Pollard, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 13: 202. (1900)
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