Emerging fiddleheads of the Spreading Shield Fern, Dryopteris dilatata, arise in clusters from the underground rhizome. 15 May, 2004. Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood, Alaska.
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Fiddleheads of the Spreading Shield Fern, Dryopteris dilatata break through a bed of sphagnum moss. The fiddleheads of some ferns (Osmunda cinnamomea) develop on the underground rhizome for four years before finally emerging in the fifth year (Steeves and Sussex,1989, pg 149). 15 May, 2004. Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood, Alaska.
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A sorus of the Spreading Shield Fern, Dryopteris dilatata. There is usually one to a few sori on the back of a pinnule. The central membrane over the sorus is the protective indusium, shriveled now to reveal the mature sporangia. Collected near Homer, Alaska, 24 July, 2004.
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Spores of the Spreading Shield Fern, Dryopteris dilatata. These spores are about 50 micons long, approximately half the thickness of a hair. Photographed in yellow light. Kachemak Bay State Park, near Homer, Alaska. 24 July, 2004 .
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