Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta (Filicophyta)
Class: Pteridopsida (Filicopsida)
Subclass: Filicinae
Order: Dryopteridales
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Dryopteris

Dryopteris carthusiana

Common name: spinulose wood fern

• Dryopteris carthusiana
• AKA: Dryopteris spinulosa
• Range: Eastern North America
• Chromosome count: n=82
• Confused with:
• Athyrium angustum
• Athyrium asplenioides
• Dryopteris campyloptera
• Dryopteris intermedia

The spinulose wood fern arose as a hybrid between the intermediate wood fern, Dryopteris intermedia, and an unknown ancestor. It is often difficult to distinguish from the intermediate wood fern, and they sometimes grow together. However, all in all, the intermediate wood fern prefers cool, moist rocks, while the spinulose wood fern is more likely to grow in warmer and drier spots, and to grow in soil.

This fern is sometimes found in scattered locations as single specimens that have adventured there by spore.

The plant grows in a well-defined crown. The plant is sub-evergreen in much of its range, completely deciduous in the northern part, and may be fully evergreen in mild winters towards the south.

The spinulose wood fern is a good fern for the garden, and is easily grown in ordinary garden soil.