Polypodium virginianum (Common polypody)

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Polypodium virginianum L.

Common polypody, rock polypody, rock cap fern

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Pteridophyta	Ferns
Class	Filicopsida	“Leptosporangiate” (has to do with how their spores form) ferns—includes most ferns
Order	Polypodiales	Polypod ferns
Family	Polypodiaceae	Polypod ferns, many of which are epiphytes—they grow on other plants without harming them
Genus	Polypodium	From Greek polus, “many,” and podos, “foot”
Species	virginianum	“Of Virginia”

About plant names...

Rock polypody is native to eastern North America, and possibly also to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. It forms a springy, verdant carpet over rocks, even in winter. It is also partial to cliffs. It prefers dampness and shade.

Identification: Smaller than most ferns, rock polypody has narrow fronds 3-16" (8-40 cm) long and 1-2" (3-6 cm) wide, on smooth stems (petioles) 1-6" (3-15 cm) long. Fronds are erect and often arched, oblong, lanceolate-oblong, or elliptic-oblong in general shape, containing 8-20 pairs of leaflets, and usually widest toward the middle. While many ferns emerge from a central rhizome, these are haphazardly oriented. Leaflets are oblong and acuminate. The angle formed between successive leaflets is very acute, while similar appearing resurrection ferns’ are concave. In summer and fall, round sori, arranged in neat rows and columns of fuzzy-looking pale brown dots, appear on the leaf undersides. The sori lack a protective membrane (indusia).

Online References:

The Hardy Fern Library

Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Illinois Wildflowers

The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site

Wikipedia

References:

Cobb, Boughton, Farnsworth, Elizabeth & Lowe, Cheryl, Peterson Field Guides: Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005, p. 194

4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire

10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts
≈ 3½ × 5" (8.7 × 13 cm)

4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 21 × 16" (52 × 41 cm)

7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 31 × 21" (79 × 53 cm)

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 12 cm)

4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 11 cm)

Polypodium vulgare auct. non L. p.p.

Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton

Polypodium virginianum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

8/15/2015 · Moose Cave, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine

10/3/2010 · George W. Childs State Park, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm) ID is uncertain

9/26/2010 · Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts
≈ 3 × 2' (1 × 0.7 m)

4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 18 cm)

9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 7" (16 × 17 cm)

7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 4 × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 18 cm)

4/29/2016 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5½ × 3½' (1.8 × 1.1 m)

4/3/2010 · Mt. Battie (Elev. 780'), Camden, Maine
≈ 7 × 6" (17 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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