Ontario Ferns website

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

Habitat: Forests

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Photographs: 52 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

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

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

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

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

A young plant (mid July).

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

Patch in Ontario.

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

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

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

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

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

Herbarium specimen, showing underside of frond and sori.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

Herbarium specimen showing root.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

Herbarium specimen showing overall form of a frond.

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).

Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

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

(Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium,Burlington,Ontario).


Range map for Long Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)