Braun's Holly Fern
Polystichum braunii
Leaves (fronds) are evergreen, up to 1 meter long and 20 cm wide, twice compound, lance-elliptic in outline, widest at about the middle, tapering to a pointed tip and gradually tapering at the base, with branches (pinnae) all along the stem nearly all the way to the ground, the lowest pinnae very short. Pinnae are up to 4 inches long, mostly lance-oblong in outline with 9 to 15 pairs of leaflets (pinnules).
Pinnules are sharply toothed, the teeth with bristled tips and curved up towards the pinnule tip (falcate). The upper surface is dark, glossy green, the lower surface paler. Stems (rachis) are densely covered in tan scales, especially near the base.
Many pinnules, especially near the rachis, typically have a small lobe (auricle) at the base. Veins are forked. Plants grow in an asymmetrical clump of 12 or more fronds, the fronds often arching.
Pinnules are sharply toothed, the teeth with bristled tips and curved up towards the pinnule tip (falcate). The upper surface is dark, glossy green, the lower surface paler. Stems (rachis) are densely covered in tan scales, especially near the base.
Many pinnules, especially near the rachis, typically have a small lobe (auricle) at the base. Veins are forked. Plants grow in an asymmetrical clump of 12 or more fronds, the fronds often arching.