Woodsia obtusa (Spreng.) Torr. var. obtusa

Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern; Common Woodsia

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern is a native evergreen fern formally in the Wood Fern family (Dryopteridaceae) but now in its own family Woodsiaceae. It grows throughout Alabama. Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern grows on roadside banks, rocky slopes, and in steep ravines. It grows as individual plants with erect or spreading fronds (leaves) that are from six to twelve inches in length. The fronds are bipinnate with six to ten pairs of pinnae (leaflets). The lobes of the pinnae are rounded, and the leaf has glandular hairs on its undersurface. The petiole (leaf stalk) has brown papery scales and stalked glands on it. Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern reproduces by forming spores which are produced in sac-like structures called sporangia. The sporangia are clustered together on the underside of the fertile leaves in sori (groups of sporangia). The sore are covered by a flap of tissue called the indusium. The indusium splits into four to six segments exposing the sori. The split indusium looks like a star. Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern is more tolerant of drought than most of our native ferns. It can be purchased from some native plant nurseries. Blunt Lobe Cliff Fern does well on shaded banks, in rock gardens, and under large trees. --A. Diamond

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Native

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