
Appearance
''Osmunda spectabilis'' is an easy fern to recognize in the New World flora. Although it closely resembles species ''O. regalis'', ''O. japonica'', and ''O. lancea'', only ''O. spectabilis'' is found growing naturally in the New World. The fronds of ''O. spectabilis'' can exceed 1 meter in length and are bipinnate. The pinnules are attached by a very narrow base. The plant produces separate sterile and fertile fronds. Fertile fronds are similar to the sterile fronds, in the lower and middle portions, but the top-most pinnae are fertile and they are much reduced and brown when mature in the early summer.
Distribution
American royal fern is most commonly found growing in wetter soils such as those found in wet forests, bogs, and along streams and lakes.
Habitat
American royal fern is most commonly found growing in wetter soils such as those found in wet forests, bogs, and along streams and lakes.References:
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