# spinulose wood fern (*Dryopteris carthusiana*) The spinulose wood fern is a lovely green plant that grows in shady places. Its fronds are shaped like feathers and can be very tall, making it look like a little forest on its own! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![spinulose wood fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dryopteris_carthusiana.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dryopteris_carthusiana.jpg) ## Appearance The spinulose wood fern has delicate, lacy fronds that are vibrant green and triangular in shape. Its fronds are deeply cut, giving them a finely textured, somewhat spiny appearance, making it distinct from broader-leaved ferns. These fronds emerge from the base in a graceful cluster. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Dryopteridaceae - **Genus:** Dryopteris ## Interesting facts - Instead of seeds, it makes microscopic dust-like spores carried by the wind! - Its name 'spinulose' means 'minutely spiny,' even though its fronds feel soft to touch! - Look for tiny brown dots on the frond undersides; those are its spore factories! - This fern has been around since the time of dinosaurs, millions of years ago! ## Special abilities - **Spore Power:** Spinulose wood fern has sori on its fronds that release tiny spores to spread and create new ferns without needing seeds or flowers. - **Winter Green:** This fern can keep its fronds green through winter in some climates, allowing it to capture sunlight when other plants are dormant. - **Shade Master:** Spinulose wood fern thrives in low light, thanks to its efficient fronds that capture scarce sunlight in dense forest understories. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-75 cm - **Spread:** 45-90 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Slugs may occasionally browse on its fronds. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer occasionally browse on young fern fronds. - **Shelter:** Pillbug (*Porcellionides pruinosus*) — Pillbugs and other invertebrates find refuge under its fronds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Nonvascular](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nonvascular): This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spinulose wood fern? 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 spinulose wood fern? 30-75 cm ### How wide does spinulose wood fern spread? 45-90 cm ### Is spinulose wood fern edible? No ### Is spinulose wood fern toxic? None ### What is spinulose wood fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is spinulose wood fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Days Ferry Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/days-ferry-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Forest Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forest-hill-park) — Ohio, US · Park - [Cheney Brothers Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheney-brothers-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicago-botanic-garden) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Hattertown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hattertown) — Connecticut, US · Neighborhood - [Medfield Rhododendrons](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/medfield-rhododendrons) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see spinulose wood fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spinulose-wood-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spinulose Wood Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spinulose-wood-fern)