Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott

Christmas Fern; Dagger Fern

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Christmas Fern is a native herbaceous evergreen perennial in the Wood Fern family (Dryopteridaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Christmas Fern occurs in rich hardwood forests, in ravines, in rocky woods, and along streams. It is a perennial from a short rhizome. Leaves are evergreen, leathery in texture, and once pinnate. The petioles of the leaves are covered in light brown scales. The blade is lanceolate in outline. Pinnae are “boot” shaped with serrate margins. Christmas Fern reproduces by forming spores. Christmas Fern has dimorphic leaves with the fertile fronds having reduced, narrow pinnae at their apex. The spores are in sporangia grouped into sori that cover the lower surface of the reduced pinnae. The sori are covered with an indusium. Christmas Fern is often available from native plant nurseries. It prefers an organically rich well-draining soil in partial to full shade. Christmas Fern tolerates drier conditions than many other native ferns.—A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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