English: Spreading Wood Fern.
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Region: northern temperate, boreal regions; North America, Europe, Asia.
Habitat: moist, shaded forests, woodlands, and rocky areas; thrives in acidic to neutral soils.
Ecology: stabilizes soil; not threatened, susceptible to habitat loss in some regions.
Ue: ornamental, in shade gardens.

BotanyFern; medium-sized; deciduous; spreading and arching habit.
Root: rhizomatous root system; short, creeping rhizomes with fibrous roots.
Leaves: dark green to light green; bipinnate to tripinnate; 20–80 cm long; lance-shaped; arching; leaflets finely divided with toothed or lobed edges; scaly rachis.
Sori: on the undersides of the leaves; round; covered with kidney-shaped indusia.
Reproduction: through spores, dispersed by wind.

UsesEcological: stabilizes soil.
Medicinal: Traditional use in indigenous practices for treating wounds and inflammation.
Some anecdotal reports suggest its use as a diuretic or for skin conditions, though limited formal studies are available.