Long Beech Fern
(Phegopteris connectilis)

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis) Other common names: Northern Beech Fern

Other scientific names: Dryopteris phegopteris, Phegopteris polypodioides, Polypodium connectile, Thelypteris phegopteris

French names: Phegoptère vulgaire 

Family: Marsh Fern Family (Thelypteridaceae)

Distinctive features: Lower two pinnae point downard.

Similar species:
  •   Marginal Shield Fern (Dryopteris marginalis) - also has sori along the leaflet edges; but has an entirely different form overall.
  •   Broad Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) - Fronds appear frillier.

Fronds: Twice divided

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common

Photographs: 41 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

A patch of Long Beech Fern in a forest (photo taken in Nova Scotia).

Single frond showing typical growth form.Note the two downward pointing pinnae. This is a main characteristic of this fern.

A young plant (mid July).

Patch in Ontario.

Underside of a leaflet, showing sori along the margins, similar to Marginal Shield Fern (Dryopteris marginalis).

Closer view of the sori, along the margins of the leaflets.

Herbarium specimen, showing underside of frond and sori.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium, Burlington, Ontario)

Herbarium specimen showing root.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium, Burlington, Ontario)

Herbarium specimen showing overall form of a frond.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium, Burlington, Ontario)

Another herbarium specimen showing form of a frond (more compact).

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium, Burlington, Ontario)

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