I bought this fern this summer although it had no tag. I wonder if anyone can help nudge me toward an identity. It's a good size, the fronds over 2 feet long, with very long stipes (stems). The fronds have a fairly characteristic way of unfurling, shown in one photo. There is a yellow colour along the midrib of the pinnae that is becoming more emphasized over time (pictures were taken in July).
Looks rather like a Dryopteris. There's lots of them (~150 species), so pinning it down to species isn't going to be easy.
Thanks Michael; that's about how far I managed to get too, and the fern manual is letting me down on this one. I'll have to wait till next year and see if anything else unfurls its fronds just like this one.
That slightly irregular unfurling is quite common in various Dryopteris species, I don't think it has any taxonomic significance. Try to concentrate on the degree of lobing on the pinnae, and the shape of the sori (spore capsules). And get a chromosome count, if you can find a handy lab.!
