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Thelypteris ovata
Ovate Marsh Fern
Ovate Maiden Fern
Synonym(s): Pelazoneuron ovatum
Florida native
An occasional fern of Calcerous hammocks, limestone sinks and outcrops and moist woods throughout most of Florida. The range includes the southeastern coastal states from South Carolina into Texas, Mexico, Central America, northwest South America and the West Indies.
Ovate marsh ferns have somewhat slender branching stems that are often arching. Fronds are 35-165cm (14 to 65 in.) long overall with straw-colored petioles 10-80cm (4 to 31-1/2 in.) long and darkening to a reddish-brown towards the base. The rachis is also straw-colored and may be sparsely or densely hairy. The pinnate-pinnatifed blade is ovate in overall outline, 15-75cm (6 to 30 in.) long and up to 40cm (15-3/4 in.) wide. The pinnatifed pinnae are shiny and lack hair above, except sometimes along the axis, with hairs on the underside. The basal lateral veins of adjacent pinnae meet at or very close to the sinus. The round sori are found near the margins of the pinnules with sparsely hairy kidney-shaped indusia.
Thelypteris ovata is a member of the Thelypteridaceae - Marsh Ferns family.
Other species of the Thelypteris genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Thelypteris dentata - DOWNY MAIDEN FERN
Thelypteris kunthii - WIDESPREAD MAIDEN FERN
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jan 05, 2023
