Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) Login         


        Description
  • Height 2 - 6 ft.
  • Sword fern is a dominant plant in moist conifer forests.
  • Each frond is once divided, with leaflets that connect to a central midrib.
  • The base of each leaflet has a "thumb", like the hilt of a sword.
  • It likes shade and cool weather.
  • Compare to other Sword Ferns
  • CA native
  • AKA Sword Fern, Western Swordfern
  • Wood Fern Family (Dryopteridaceae)



Notice the little sword hilts pointing down at the base of each leaflet. Fronds are thick, dark green and evergreen.



Under the fronds are round sori, full of spores, lined adjacent to the center line.



Sword Fern is common in acidic soil under redwoods and other damp shady places. Its base is round and its fronds arch upward.

   Photo Gallery (37 ) click any picture to enlarge
    

Sword ferns send many fronds up from a round base. Fronds are monomorphic - all about the same shape. They grow up to 5 feet long and are rather nar ...

Here is the classic sword fern look - dark but shiny leaflets with obvious "thumbs" at their base. Once you see the thumb you know you've got a swo ...

Western Sword Fern is once divided - its frond is divided only between leaflets that do not further divide. Other fern fronds are once, twice, and ev ...

Most sword ferns grow in the shade, and have flat fronds, all in a plane. However, this sword fern has grown in the sun, and has grown twisted leaf ...

Fern fronds emerge from underground rhizomes and start by growing a scaly stem with no leaves at first, tipped with a fiddlehead. The bottom part ...