• Fiddleheads: emerge in early spring, may be covered with very short white hairs
• Fronds: compound, leaflets deeply lobed, divided almost to mid-nerve, outline; leaf blade widest above middle, rapidly narrowing at tip, gradually tapering to the base
• Spores: fertile frond; 20 to 50 inches tall, emerges from center of leaf clump, 25 or more pairs of hard tubular-shaped appendages contain spores in bead-like structures
• Fruiting season: Summer
• Height: 2-6 feet
• Habitat: moist to wet; swampy woods, thickets