Southern Lady Fern from Catherine – SC

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I found this fern along the nature trail at Barnwell State Park in South Carolina. It was the only one standing up and white around a ton of cinnamon ferns. However, I have looked online for hours and can’t find the name of this fern. Hope you all can help! I took this picture Nov. 26th, 2016.

Hi Catherine,

This appears to be a senescent, yellowed, frond of the southern lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina, or more specifically Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth subsp. asplenioides (Michx.) Hultén. It is somewhat difficult to determine these when they are senescent, but I do seem to see images of the old sori which helped.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Steve Hill, Botanist, SCNPS

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