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Ostrich Fern

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

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How common: Common

Ostrich fern is a tall, elegant fern that forms vase‑shaped clumps in damp, shady woods. The fresh green leaves can reach about 1.5 m, while separate, shorter brown spore‑bearing leaves stand stiffly in the center. It often forms large patches and is also grown as an ornamental plant.

Did you know?

  • One of the largest and showiest ferns in northern forests, with leaves up to 1.5 m tall.
  • The central brown spore leaves harden and often stay standing through winter.

About the species

Identification

Forms a regular, funnel‑shaped clump: short brown spore leaves in the middle, taller green leaves around. Green leaves 30–150 cm, held upright, narrow and widest near the tip, divided into many narrow opposite side pieces with mostly smooth edges. The spore leaves are narrower, shorter, stiff and turn brown. Unlike most other ferns, its spores are on these separate central leaves, not under the green ones—this and the tall vase shape help tell it apart.

Plant group

Ferns, horsetails and clubmosses

Habitat

herb-rich forest

About the habitat

Moist, shady, nutrient‑rich places such as stream banks, damp deciduous woods and swampy groves; needs consistently moist soil and shade. Occurs across Finland; fairly common in the south and center, rarer in the north.

Sources

Photo: W.carter, CC0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beech, ferns and lily of the valley in Gullmarsskogen 1.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Luonnonvaraiset lääkekasvit - Sanikkaiset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37781

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Lehto, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37781

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Saniaiset ja liekokasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37781

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturikoivikot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37781

Text: Pinkka: BIO-515 Etelä-Suomen putkilokasvit - Saniaiset ja liekokasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.37781

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotkansiipi

See also