Syn.: Aspidium ludovicianum Kunze, Dryopteris floridana (Hook.) Kuntze, Nephrodium floridanum Hook.
Family: Dryopteridaceae Ching
Distribution: Endemic to extreme south east of US, found in states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and both Carolinas.
Ecology: Swamps, marshes, wet woods, in shade, at low elevations, 0–100 m. Sporulating from spring to fall.
Description: Evergreen fern, leaves 35–120 × 10–30 cm, petiole more than 1/4 length of leaf, with conspicuous brownish coloured scales; blade bright green, lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid, herbaceaous; fertile pinnae in the upper part of of the frond, sterile pinnae in lower part, fertile and sterile pinnae are dissimilar in that fertile pinnae are narrower and more widely spaced; pinnule margins serrate; sori round as a circle (donut) or incomplete circle, midway between midvein and margin of pinnule; indusia without glands.
These images were taken in USA, Louisiana, Jean Lafitte National Park, Barataria Preserve (May 2014).
