Dryopteris marginalis, vernacularly known as the marginalshield fern or marginal wood fern is a perennial species of fern found in damp shady areas throughout eastern North America, from Texas to Minnesota and Newfoundland. It favors moderately acid to circumneutral soils in cooler areas, but is fairly drought-resistant once established. In the warmer parts of its range, it is most likely to be found on north-facing non-calcareous rock faces. It is common in many altitudes throughout its range, from high ledges to rocky slopes and stream banks. Marginal wood fern's name derives from the fact that the sori are located on the margins, or edges of the leaflets.
Description
Dryopteris marginalis is an evergreen fern throughout its range, along with Christmas fern it is one of the few evergreen ferns. Marginal wood fern grows from a clump with a prominent central rootstock, this rootstock may be exposed and give this fern the appearance of being like a small tree fern. Often, the dead leaves will accumulatebeneath the plant. The stipe, or stem which supports the leaf is approximately 1/4the length of the leaf and covered in bright golden brown scales. The stipe itself is grooved on upward facing side and dark red-brown at the base and becoming green further up the leaf. The leaf is a dark blue green and thick and leathery in texture. It grows 1–2 ft in height and approximately 6 in wide. Each leaf is broken up into leaflets which are arranged on either side of the main stalk. The tips of these leaflets are generally curved toward the tip of the leaf. These leaflets themselves are divided into subleaflets which are blunt tipped and either serrated or lobed. The fertile leaflets are similar to the fertile leaflets in size and appearance. The round sori are located on the margins of the leaf tissue. Before the sori are ripe they start out gray then they turn an interesting blue-violet color before finally turning brown when they are mature. The sori are covered in a kidney shaped indusium which is smooth. Dryopteris marginalis is known to form hybrids with 10 other species and some of the hybrids are common, they can be identified by the malformed spores and sori which are not quite on the margins of the leaves.
