blunt woodsia

Woodsia obtusa

Blunt woodsia is a lovely fern that grows in cool, shady places. Its soft, green leaves are shaped like little fans, making it a special plant to find in the woods!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The blunt woodsia is a small-to-medium-sized fern with delicate, lacy fronds that are a soft green color. Its fronds are twice-divided, tapering at both ends, and have distinct rounded (blunt) segments, giving it a somewhat fuzzy or soft appearance compared to other ferns.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyWoodsiaceaeGenusPhysematium

Photo: Sinéad Tuttle-LernerCC BY 4.0 · iNaturalistView original ↗

blunt woodsia

Interesting facts

It can cling to bare rocks and cliffs, even growing sideways!

Its "blunt" name comes from the rounded tips of its leaf segments!

The fronds curl up tightly in winter to protect themselves!

This fern reproduces with tiny spores instead of seeds or flowers!

Special abilities

When conditions get dry, blunt woodsia can curl its fronds inwards, protecting its delicate parts and conserving water until rain returns.

Instead of seeds, blunt woodsia releases tiny spores that are carried by the wind, allowing it to spread to new rocky habitats.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-45 cm
Spread: 15-30 cm
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Grey Field Slug

Deroceras reticulatum

Slugs sometimes graze on its soft fronds.

Shelter

Common Pillbug

Porcellionides pruinosus

Pillbugs hide under its fronds from heat and predators.

Eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer may browse on its fronds when other food is scarce.

Traits

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Spore Producing

Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants in the wild, as some can be delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify blunt woodsia?

Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is blunt woodsia?

15-45 cm

How wide does blunt woodsia spread?

15-30 cm

Is blunt woodsia edible?

Is blunt woodsia toxic?

None

What is blunt woodsia's lifecycle?

Perennial

Where is blunt woodsia usually found?

Forests