Thelypteris kunthii

southern shield fern, kunth's maiden fern, wood fern, river fern, southern shield fern, normal shield fern
Family

Thelypteridaceae

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

pinnatifid

Leaf Type

compound, dissected, pinnate

Leaf Shape

oblong, elliptic, lanceolate, ovate

Growth Form

fern

Flower Month

May - August

Height (meters)

0.6 - 1.8

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season

Leaf Retention

Deciduous


Wetland Class

FACW

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

3

Field Characters

Similar to T. palustris, the southern marsh fern. Thelypteris palustris has forked veins and a non-hairy indusia (covering of sori), while Thelypteris kunthii has simple veins and a hairy indusia. T. kunthii also has a green stalk with scales at the base.

Cultural Information

Best propagated by division, but spores can also be used (Steffen 1997).

Natural History

.

Habitat

Most common in forests but is also found on the edge of sandy creeks, in swamps, pine savannas, low woods, wet bluffs and ledges, and prairies.