Kunth's Maiden Fern, Southern Shield Fern
Thelypteris kunthii (Desvaux) C.V. Morton

Thelypteris kunthii (Kunth's Maiden Fern, Southern Shield Fern)

Very rare in North Carolina, the northern limit of its range, where this large, elegant fern is found along shady, moist roadsides with high-pH gravel made of marl (coquina limestone).

Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC 8/26/2012

Thelypteris kunthii (Kunth's Maiden Fern, Southern Shield Fern)

Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC 8/26/2012

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.