Dryopteris celsa (W. Palmer) Knowlton, W. Palmer, & Pollard. Common name: Log Fern. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Swamps, seepage bogs, and calcareous floodplains, typically associated with calcareous substrates. Distribution: Ne. NJ and ne. NY west to s. IL, e. MO, and AR, south to SC, GA, n. AL, TN, e. and n. LA, and e. TX (Mink, Singhurst, & Holmes 2011a); disjunct in w. NY and w. MI; overall very scattered in its distribution. Discovered in MS by John Kees (Kees & Weakley 2018).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: This species is a fertile allotetraploid derived from hybridization of D. goldiana and D. ludoviciana; its chromosome complement is symbolized GGLL (Werth 1991).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, F, FNA2, Il, K4, Mo1, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tn, TxFerns, Va, W, WV, Montgomery & Paulton (1981); = Dryopteris ×celsa (W.Palmer) Knowlt., W.Palmer, & Pollard — Tat; = Dryopteris goldiana (Hook. ex Goldie) A.Gray ssp. celsa W.Palmer — G; > Dryopteris atropalustris Small — Sf; > Dryopteris celsa (W.Palmer) Knowlt., W.Palmer, & Pollard — Sf; >< Dryopteris cristata (L.) A.Gray — Tx, misidentification. Basionym: Dryopteris goldiana (Hook. ex Goldie) A.Gray ssp. celsa W.Palmer 1899
Links to other floras: = Dryopteris celsa - FNA2
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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Height: 2-4 ft.
plant sale text: Log fern, found in swamps and calcareous floodplains of the Eastern U.S., produces large, upright fronds whose dark green color and elegant shape add a beautiful lushness to shady parts of a home landscape. A naturally occurring, fertile hybrid between D. goldiana and D. ludoviciana, log fern is semi-evergreen. It is often found growing on rotting logs (hence its common name).
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native range: eastern United States
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