Showing the underside of a frond of Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) to see the distribution of sori that appear in 3+ pairs on each pinna.
Underside of the Bradley's Spleenwort frond demonstrating sori appearing in 3+ pairs per pinna. Also a close view of the distinctive stipe-rachis coloration. (4/4)
#fernspotted #appalachian #epiphytic #fern
Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) growing on a steep, shaded rock at approximately 800 feet elevation near the Appalachian Trail.
A closer look at the second of the two Bradley's Spleenwort specimens. This is another example of the dark stipe coloration extending up the rachis. Color variation of some fronds is also present. These photos were taken in November, 2025. (3/4)
#fernspotted #appalachian #epiphytic #fern
Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) and Rock Podypody (Polypodium virginianum) growing from within a small crevasse in a rock located in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in Maryland, U.S.A..
A closer look of one of the 2 Bradley's Spleenwort specimens. I see a leathery texture, toothed pinnae that are not deeply cut, and dark stipe with coloration that extends partway up the rachis. A neighboring Rock Polypody is situated to the right. (2/4)
#fernspotted #appalachian #epiphytic #fern
Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) pictured growing on rocks near a cliff in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in Maryland, U.S.A.. This location is exposed to high winds, but is heavily shaded by tall, monumental rock formations. A small Rock Polypody (Polypodium virginianum) is also pictured.
Bradley's Spleenwort - My first sighting of this rare fern. Pictured are two specimens growing on rocks near the edge of a cliff near the Appalachian Trail approximately at approximately 800 feet (224 meters) elevation. Photos taken in 11/2025. (1/4)
#fernspotted #appalachian #epiphytic #fern
Full plant view of Cut-leaf grape fern (Sceptridium dissectum or Bortychium dissectum). The smaller, bronzing, triangular sterile fronds stand close to the ground and far below the spent fertile frond.
Fertile frond view of the Cut-leaf grape fern. The spores of this plant already released and this fertile frond is in recession.
Frond view of the sterile fronds of a Cut-leaf grape fern. They are in the process of turning bronze, from a dark green as the cool weather arrives.
Cut-leaf grape fern starting to show its cold-weather bronze coloring. Spotted in a breath-taking serpentine barrens landscape
#fernspotted #piedmont #serpentine
Full-fern view and difficult to see. A very small Asplenium growing on the face of a vertical rock face.
Partial frond view of a tall Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) showing late-season color. At 6'1" or 1.85m, my camera was eye-level in this shot. This frond easily stood 6'5"+ (1.96m+).
Absolutely huge.
This Cinnamon fern easily stood 6'5"+ (1.96m+) tall.
In this case, on even ground, my (6'1" or 1.85m) camera was eye level.
#fernspotted #piedmont
Frond view of Broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) showing its light green summer coloration and maintaining its structure despite the onset of autumn. All if its pinnae are winged at the rachis connection points (distinguishing it from Long beech fern). The frond is triangle shaped, with the exceptions of the bottom pinnae that angle backwards.
Broad beech fern still in its summer color. Amazing structure
#fernspotted #piedmont #structure
Full plant view of Silvery glade fern (Deparia acrostichoides), also known as Silvery false spleenwort and silvery spleenwort. Demonstrating deep green/green-blue coloration, fronds approximately 3 feet (0.9 meter) in length, and thin but long-reaching pinnae. This fern was spotted stream-side among many species, at the floor of an isolated, rocky valley.
Full-bodied and deeply colored Silvery glade fern
#fernspotted #piedmont
Green fern with long vertical stipe. The pinnae are offset and spaced far apart.
What is this fern? The pinnae are distinctly offset and spaced far apart. Possible Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium asplenioides)? Located in waterlogged, stream-adjacent area in central Maryland.
#fernspotted #whatisit #plantid
Frond view of a Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) used by the Fern Leaftier caterpillar (Herpetogramma spp.) to make a fern ball structure. The frond is pulled together in the shape of a ball using the silk of the caterpillar.
The work of the Fern Leaftier caterpillars (Herpetogramma spp.) are becoming easier to see as the densest foliage recedes with the season. This is another example of a fern ball structure made from a Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).
#fernspotted #caterpillar
Frond-view of New York fern (Amauropelta noveboracensis) demonstrating a dramatic transition to autumn coloration. Pale green gives way to way to a bright white/yellow.
New York fern (Amauropelta noveboracensis) sticks close to the river in this area. Its abundance often causes me to overlook it. In this case, the dramatic transition to late-season color makes it hard to miss.
#fernspotted #piedmont #autumncolor
Full view of Walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) just inches from the ground, at the base of a vertical rock outcropping, in a shaded nook. The fern is surrounded by moss and seems wet because of the abundant moisture in the area. Everything pictured is green, showing no signs of seasonal change.
Walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) just inches from the ground, at the base of a vertical rock outcropping, in a shaded nook. Thick (and sharp) vegetation and geological features limit sunlight and access. Despite how wet it looks, it did not rain!
#fernspotted #piedmont #iseemoss
A patch of Eastern hayscented fern (Sitobolium punctilobulum) showing late season color. Some touches of green are still visible, but are giving way to pink.
Eastern hayscented fern (Sitobolium punctilobulum) sticks to places where the sun breaks through in this river valley. This patch shows its transition to late-season color.
#fernspotted #piedmont #autumncolor
Frond view of Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) showing late summer coloration that highlights its intricate texture. Pale green gives way to bold and brilliant browns and yellow.
Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) shows a change in color in late summer that highlights texture that is more-difficult to see when fronds are evenly green. The brilliant color and texture of this particular frond may not have been done justice in this photo.
#fernspotted #piedmont #autumncolor
Close view of a cluster of Rock polypody (Polypodium virginianum) showing large fronds and deep green color.
1/3
Rock polypody (Polypodium virginianum) are striking when punctuating beds of moss, but seeing them en masse is also impressive.
#fernspotted #piedmont
Full-plant view of Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) with fronds pointing upward from the forest floor.
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) marking the streamside base of a steep incline in a rocky river valley.
#fernspotted
Partial colony view of a group of Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) showing distinctive red stipes
Eye-catching red stipes of a stand of Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina).
#fernspotted
A close look at an emerging fertile frond of an Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). This frond is still emerging and still very green.
Reposting this photo with correct identification. I enjoy this picture too much to remove.
A close look at an emerging fertile frond of an Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris).
Thank you for the correction @fernleaf07.bsky.social
#fernspotted #frond #otherworldly
Frond-view of Silvery False Spleenwort (Deparia acrostichoides) showing a gradient of seasonal color, with yellow pinna tips that become brown approaching the stipe. The stipe remains yellow-green.
Silvery False Spleenwort (Deparia acrostichoides) showing a gradient of seasonal color.
#fernspotted #deciduous
Frond-view image of two Eastern Hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) fronds at different stages of seasonal coloration. Seen from above, the image aligns the smaller top frond and the larger bottom frond along their respective stipes. The top frond is turning yellow (from green) and is early in its seasonal transition. The bottom frond is advanced in its transition, showing olive, brown and purple coloring and the beginnings of degraded pinnae tips.
Eastern Hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) showing transition to late-season color as it prepares to shed its fronds.
#fernspotted #deciduous
Close shot of a crested Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) in which the tip of the fern blade splits (or forks) from the rachis. The divisions of the rachis have their own tips formed by pinnae that decrease in size approaching the tip as expected in most Christmas ferns.
An example of cresting spotted in a Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) in which the blade of the fern splits (or forks) from the rachis, resulting in two blade tips.
#fernspotted #cresting #fasciation
A view of Rock Polypody (Polypodium virginianum) from below. Light filters through the pale green pinna enabling the bright orange sori beneath the fertile fronds to stand out visually.
A view from below a Rock Polypody (Polypodium virginianum) on a cliff-face. The robust sori are easy to spot on the underside of this fertile frond.
#fernspotted #evergreen #sori #spores
View of Walking ferns (Asplenium rhizophyllum) found on a large vertical rock face, growing from moss and alongside four other fern species.
These Walking ferns (Asplenium rhizophyllum) are part of a colony in a small, stream-side grove among four other fern species. The beginnings of new plants can be spotted on the tips of the largest blades.
#fernspotted #nativeplant #appalachian #iseemoss
