Thick-stemmed woodfern (Dryopteris crassirhizoma) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Thick-stemmed woodfern is native to northeastern Asia and is cultivated in shady U.S. gardens. Its broad leaves spread from a thick, upright stem, with shiny brown scales covering their stalks.

Appearance

Appearance: Round occur on the underside of the upper leaf divisions, close to their central veins.
Growth form: A thick upright sends up a symmetrical clump of about 2–3.5 ft (0.6–1.1 m) tall.
Leaves: The fronds narrow gradually toward the base. Their short stalks and central axes carry many shiny brown to nearly black scales.

Look-alikes

Braun's holly fernPolystichum braunii

Thick-stemmed woodfern has once-divided fronds whose large side divisions are deeply cut but remain joined. Braun's holly fern is twice-divided, with more distinct small leaflets that often end in sharp bristles.

Why they get mixed upBoth form large scaly crowns in cool, moist woodland.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: moist woodland slopes
shade gardens
Range: It is native from northeastern China and Korea through Japan and the Russian Far East. In the United States it is mainly encountered as a cultivated fern.
Preferred conditions: It grows best in partial to full shade with moist, humus-rich soil.

Life cycle

Reproduction: Like other ferns, it has no flowers or seeds. It reproduces with spores made in sori on the backs of the fronds.

Cautions

Cautions: Concentrated extracts of the rhizome can cause severe poisoning and should not be used for self-treatment.

Name and classification

About the name: The maackii variety is sometimes recognized separately within this species and sometimes not distinguished.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The thick rhizome and old leaf bases have a long history in East Asian herbal traditions.

9 sources