Tall firm deciduous terrestrial ferns, frequently growing in wet areas in vase-shaped clumps from a massive underground stem (rhizome) covered with persistent leaf bases and fibrous roots but lacking scales with spores produced in clusters on contracted leaflets; includes Cinnamon Fern, Interrupted Fern and Royal Fern. 
Spore-producing structures (sporangia) are large. round, and borne openly in complex clusters on contracted leaflets. All spores mature at the same time, are brown when mature, and release green spores that are short lived. 
Leaves are compound (up to 3 divisions), coarse, erect, and deeply lobed. Individual leaves may be completely fertile or sterile, or may be divided into parts that are fertile and those that are sterile. Sterile leaves or portions of leaves are green and have veins that are free, usually forked and extend to the margins. Leaf stalks are long with wings at their bases.

Dry to moist forest and meadows, swamp edges, neutral to acid soils

Spores bead-like; green when young, tan or black at maturity.

<span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Vase-shaped deciduous fern. Fertile leaves have both sterile and fertile leaflets. The sterile leaflets at the top of and bottom of the stalk are interrupted by several pairs of fertile leaflets. After releasing their spores, the fertile leaflets fall off leaving a gap in the frond. Fertile fronds are surrounded by sterile fronds. Fiddleheads are densely covered with whitish hairs that turn brownish. Similiar in appearance to Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads. &quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:9091,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16777215},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;16&quot;:14}">Vase-shaped deciduous fern. 
<span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Vase-shaped deciduous fern. Fertile leaves have both sterile and fertile leaflets. The sterile leaflets at the top of and bottom of the stalk are interrupted by several pairs of fertile leaflets. After releasing their spores, the fertile leaflets fall off leaving a gap in the frond. Fertile fronds are surrounded by sterile fronds. Fiddleheads are densely covered with whitish hairs that turn brownish. Similiar in appearance to Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads. &quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:9091,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16777215},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;16&quot;:14}">Outer ring of leaves are sterile; fertile leaflets are surrounded by sterile leaflets. Inner fertile leaves have both sterile and fertile leaflets. The sterile leaflets at the top of and bottom of the stalk are interrupted by several pairs of fertile leaflets in the middle of the leaf. After releasing their spores, the fertile leaflets fall off leaving a gap in the frond. Leaflets widely spaced. 

<span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Vase-shaped deciduous fern. Fertile leaves have both sterile and fertile leaflets. The sterile leaflets at the top of and bottom of the stalk are interrupted by several pairs of fertile leaflets. After releasing their spores, the fertile leaflets fall off leaving a gap in the frond. Fertile fronds are surrounded by sterile fronds. Fiddleheads are densely covered with whitish hairs that turn brownish. Similiar in appearance to Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads. &quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:9091,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16777215},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;16&quot;:14}">Fiddleheads are densely covered with whitish hairs that turn brownish. Similiar in appearance to Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads.

tn-claytosmunda-claytoniana-fredericton-nb-1-june-2020-dennis-robertson

TN Claytosmunda claytoniana Fredericton NB 1 June 2020 Dennis Robertson

Claytosmunda claytoniana 20220530 Fundy AFlemming 17

Claytosmunda claytoniana Fredericton NB 1 June 2020 Dennis Robertson 2

Claytosmunda claytoniana 20220530 Fundy AFlemming 93

Claytosmunda claytoniana GL Carleton County AFlemming 2021-07 IMG_5690

Claytosmunda claytoniana Ayers Lake NB 21 May 2018 P5210006_JGoltz

Claytosmunda claytoniana Ayers Lake NB 21 May 2018 P5210005 JGoltz

Osmunda regalis_Britton and Brown

Claytosmunda claytoniana

Spores at tip of stalk; large, round, tan or black when mature.

Deciduous, clumping, fern with a tree-like appearance.
Branched light green, oval to lance-shaped leaflets turn yellow in autumn. Leaves are twice-divided with widely-spaced leaflets and cinnamon-coloured wooly hairs near base. Large fiddlehead dark red with brown hairs when very young. Fertile and sterile leaves are separate, The fertile leaflets appear early (spring, early summer) at the tips of stalks, above the leaves, and turn brown quickly with large, round clusters of spores.
Stem grooved and pinkish to green.

tn-osmunda-regalis-sporangia-monument-bk-nb-accdc-sean-blaney-2009-07-02

TN Osmunda regalis-sporangia-Monument Bk NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2009-07-02

Osmunda regalis-sporangia-Monument Bk NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2009-07-02

Osmunda regalis var spectabilis_Riverview NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2018-06-09

Osmunda-regalis-var-spectabilis_Oromocto-Lake_NB-20190703-Colin-Chapman-ACCDC

Osmunda regalis Indian Point Grand Lake NB IMG_9112_JGoltz

Osmunda regalis-Monument Bk NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2009-07-02

Osmunda spectabilis

Bogs, peatlands, thickets, swamps, wet woods

Spores bead-like; greenish when young, tan or black at maturity.

Large, deciduous arching fern.
Light green, oval to lance-shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn. Leaves are twice-divided. Tuft of cinnamon-coloured hairs where each leaflet joins the stalk.
The spore-bearing fertile leaves arise from the base of the plant, appear early and turn cinnamon-brown quickly.
Large fiddleheads are covered with woolly white hairs that turn cinnamon brown.
Stem has cinnamon-coloured woolly hairs near base when young, becomes smooth with age.

Osmundaceae

Royal Fern Family