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Christmas Fern in the woods. | 
 
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The fronds are fairly upright, but gradually droop late in the season. | 
 
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New growth arising from the middle of last year's fronds. | 
 
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Showing the upright aspect of the new fronds. | 
 
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Christmas Fern and Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) in the spring (mid May). | 
 
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Christmas Fern fiddleheads are extremely photogenic! | 
 
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Christmas Fern does not have a separate fertile stalk. Instead, the fertile pinnae (leaflets) are carried at the top of the regular fronds. The fertile pinnae are much smaller than the regular pinnae. | 
 
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Closeup showing the two types of pinnae (leaflets). | 
 
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Underside of a fertile pinna, showing the sori. | 
 
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Herbarium specimen showing whole plant.
(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario). | 
 
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Herbarium specimen showing fronds and leaflets.
(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario). | 
 
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Herbarium specimen showing roots.
(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario). | 
 
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Another herbarium specimen showing roots.
(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario). | 
 
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