| Ferns and Fern Allies | |||
| Common Name: | Western Sword Fern | Scientific Name: | Polystichum munitum |
| Best Seen: | Throughout the forest | Native: | Yes |
| Special Comments: | A common fern growing trailside along Old-Growth Loop, sword fern is easily recognized by the small projection next to its stem that looks like the "hilt" of a sword blade.
The picture below shows the underside of the leaf with rows of sori containing spores that are the reproductive part of the plant. |
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<-------Hilt of the sword