Delicate, small to medium ferns arising from creeping underground stems (rhizomes), leaves arranged in threes (ternate) and divided once, or divided twice to three times with leaflets arising from both sides of the main stem (bipinnate or tripinnate), spore-producing structures (sori) round and on the undersides of leaflets.
Protective covering for spore-producing structures (indusium) is hood-shaped, thin and soon withering, and attached at one side and arching over them in a bladder-like fashion (Bladder Ferns), or absent (Oak Ferns).
Leaves may be in rows or clustered. Veins on leaflets may be free, simple or forking. Leaf stalk is scaly only at the base, and may be longer or shorter than the leaf blade.

Limestone-rich cliffs and outcrops; shade

Deciduous clumping fern.
Leaves yellow-green, long and narrow, tapering very gradually to the tip, up to 60 cm long. Veins mostly ending at notches; basal part of leaflets not winged.
Spores under leaves, away from edges. Most also reproduces by bulblets that break off and reproduce. Bulblets grown under the leaflets towards late summer.
Leaf stalk yellow-green, darker at bottom. Leaf stalk red when young.

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TN Cystopteris bulbifera Bell Forest NB 15 June 2014 115 Jim Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera Sisson Brook (4) Burke Korol ACCDC

Cystopteris bulbifera Henderson Falls NB 20240701_231707610 Jim Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera Bell Forest near Jackson Falls NB 15 June 2014 115_Jim Goltz

Cystopteris-bulbifera-North-Tilley-NB-19-July-2015-P7190167_Jim-Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera Henderson Falls NB 20240701_231732393 Jim Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera2 North Tilley NB 19 July 2015 IMG_5498-1_Jim Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera Henderson Falls NB 20240701_231807078 Jim Goltz

Cystopteris bulbifera_sinkhole_Wilson Brook_NB (2) 2016-07-10 David Mazerolle ACCDC

Cystopteris bulbifera_Britton and Brown

Cystopteris bulbifera

Rich woodlands, rocky surfaces, shaded ledge crevices 

Spores on most leaves in a row midway between the midvein and edge; no glands, hairs or scales on spores. Almost all leaves have spores. Spore covering shrivels at maturity.

Small, deciduous fern that grows in an asymmetrical clump, leaves erect to arching. Previous year&#8217;s stems persist.
Leaves lance-shaped, widest at or a little below the middle, up to 35 cm long. Lower leaflets widely spaced. Leaflets on upper third perpendicular to the stem. Lowest leaflet shorter than the second lowest leaflet. Leaflets with sharp teeth and wings at bases. Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size.
Stalk slender, smooth with a few scales near base. Dark brown/black at base becoming yellow or green above. Leaves lay on rock face due to weak stems.
Spores have a smooth covering; mature mid-summer. Almost all leaves have spores.

tn-cystopteris-fragilis-gaspereau-r-nb-accdc-sean-blaney-2017-05-21

TN Cystopteris fragilis-Gaspereau R NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2017-05-21

Cystopteris fragilis-Gaspereau R NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2017-05-21

Cystopteris fragilis-N Br Renous R NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2007-08-18

Cystopteris fragilis-Gaspereau R NB2 ACCDC Sean Blaney 2017-05-21

Cystopteris fragilis_Britton and Brown

Cystopteris fragilis

Cliffs, rock outcroppings, talus slopes, especially limestone

Deciduous clumping fern. Leaves lance-shaped, up to 45 cm long; lowest pair of leaflets a bit smaller than the second lowest pair. Leaflet edges mostly ending with a tooth or unnotched margin. Base of leaflets winged. Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size.
Spores on underside of leaflets; sparse glandular hairs on the spore covering.
Stalks dark red with scattered scales at base; tan and smooth higher up.
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cystopteris-laurentiana_britton-and-brown

Cystopteris laurentiana_Britton and Brown

Cystopteris laurentiana

Shady rocky areas, cliff faces, occasionally on the forest floor

Spores on most leaves in a row midway between the midvein and edge; no glands, hairs or scales on spores. Almost all leaves have spores.

Deciduous clumping fern. Leaves bright green, lance-shaped, up to 30 cm long with 6-14 pairs of leaflets. Lowest leaflet not the longest. Rounded irregular teeth on leaflets. Leaflets upswept towards the tip; stalkless or with short stalks, bottoms winged.
Stems slender, smooth with a few scales and 2 vascular bundles near base. Dark brown or black at base, becoming yellow or green above.
Spores on underside of leaflets have a smooth covering (indusia).

tn-cystopteris-cf-tenuis_point-wolf-river_fnp_nb-2-2013-9-16-accdc-david-mazerolle

TN Cystopteris cf tenuis_Point Wolf River_FNP_NB (2) 2013-9-16 ACCDC David Mazerolle

Cystopteris cf tenuis_Point Wolf River_FNP_NB (2) 2013-9-16 David Mazerolle ACCDC

Cystopteris-tenuis_Florenceville_NB-1-20190522-Colin-Chapman-ACCDC

Cystopteris tenuis Tay River S of English Settlement NB 20240717_160622446 Jim Goltz

Cystopteris tenuis_CaledoniaGorge_NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2020-07-04

Cystopteris-tenuis_Florenceville_NB-3-20190522-Colin-Chapman-ACCDC

Cystopteris tenuis_CaledoniaGorge_NB2 ACCDC Sean Blaney 2020-07-04

Cystopteris tenuis

Delicate deciduous fern.
Leaves twice-divided. Three triangular leaves whorled at the top of the stem, horizontal to the ground, up to 15 cm long and nearly as wide with 6-10 leaflets. Leaflets curve upwards. Leaflet divisions longer on lower side of the leaflets than on the upper side. <span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size.&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}">Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size. The pair of leaflets closest to the stem are the only stalked leaflets. 

Stem and underside of leaves densely glandular.
Spores on underside of fertile leaflets, round, at edges, uncovered. Spreads by rhizomes.

Gymnocarpium continentale

Cool, moist woods in rocky, slightly acidic soil

Delicate deciduous fern.
Fiddlehead unfurls into 3 triangular leaves whorled at the top of the stem, horizontal to the ground. Leaves yellow-green, up to 18 cm long with 6-10 pairs of leaflets. Lowest pair of leaflets divided twice; upper leaflets only divided once or lobed. Normally only leaflets at base are stalked, much larger than other leaflets. <span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size.&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}">Fertile and sterile leaves similar shape and size.
Stalks green to brown; nearly black at the base; slender and delicate with few scales.
Spores on underside of fertile leaves; circular, at edges, not covered by tissue (indusia). Spreads by rhizomes.

tn-gymnocarpium-dryopteris-skirakdoo-trail-st-leonard-nb-28-july-2018-7338_jim-goltz

TN Gymnocarpium dryopteris Skirakdoo Trail St Leonard NB 28 July 2018 7338_Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris Tay River S of English Settlement NB 20240717_154216802 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris Skirakdoo Trail St Leonard NB 20180728 7338 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris McLeod Hill Fredericton NB 20240724_195545956 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris McLeod Hill Fredericton NB 20240724_195112993 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris Andersonville NB 28 June 2011 109 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris-fiddlehead Manzer NB 20250508_165842615 Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryoperis2 Shea Lk NB 1 Aug 2011 088-1_Jim Goltz

Gymnocarpium dryopteris_Moncton_NB 2012-05-22 David Mazerolle ACCDC

Gymnocarpium dryopteris-cf-Pollard Bk NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2006-08-09

Gymnocarpium dryopteris_Britton and Brown

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Spores on underside of leaflets, circular, on edges and at veins; uncovered.

Delicate fern; deciduous, but leaves don&#8217;t die back until the next year.
Three triangular leaves whorled at the top of the stem, horizontal to the ground. Leaves yellow-green, up to 19 cm long and nearly as wide, with 9-12 pairs of leaflets. Bottom two pairs of leaflets usually have prominent stalks. On the basal leaflet, the lowermost leaflet division is the same size as fourth leaflet division, usually much larger than corresponding upper leaflet division. Middle leaflet divisions at 90° angles to the stalk. Stem dull green with scattered tan scales near base; densely glandular.
Spores on underside of leaflets, circular, on edges (sometimes at veins); uncovered. Not all leaves have spores.

Cystopteridaceae

Bladder Fern Family