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Oak Fern

Oak Fern

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

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How common: Very common

Oak Fern is a small, delicate, light‑green fern that forms airy patches on forest floors. Each leaf stands alone on a thin, dark stalk, giving the plant a lacy look. It is common across the northern forests of the world and prefers cool, shady places.

Did you know?

  • It has no flowers; it spreads by tiny spores that form as dots on the underside of the leaves.
  • A creeping black underground stem sends up many single leaves, creating soft green carpets in good spots.

About the species

Identification

A small fern, usually 10–30 cm tall. Each leaf rises alone on a long, thin, shiny dark‑brown stalk that is much longer than the leafy part. The leaf is soft, pale green and broadly triangular, wider than long, with three main lobes; the side lobes are almost as big as the tip. Each lobe is split into many narrow pieces, giving a fine, lace‑like look. In summer, small round spore dots appear on the underside. The three‑part triangular leaf on a single dark stalk helps tell it from other ferns.

Plant group

Ferns, horsetails and clubmosses

Habitat

heath forest

About the habitat

Grows in moist, shady forests, both conifer and mixed, and in rich groves. Also found on damp rock faces and among boulders. It thrives where the ground stays cool and shaded. Found throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Gerhard Josip Majewski, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6252271342

Text: Pinkka: Luonnonvaraiset lääkekasvit - Sanikkaiset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37771

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Tuore kangasmetsä, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37771

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturikoivikot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37771

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Saniaiset ja liekokasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37771

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mets%C3%A4imarre

See also