Dennstaedtiaceae - bracken fern family
   Sori covered by a false indusium.
   Rhizomes pubescent with jointed hairs.

Maine is home to 2 species in 2 genera (hybrids excluded). If you know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate link from the species list below. Otherwise, to determine which genus your fern belongs to, refer to the table below the species list.

   Dennstaedtia (1 species)
      Dennstaedtia punctilobula - eastern hay-scented fern
   Pteridium (1 species)
      Pteridium aquilinum - bracken fern

	false indusium morphology	leaf width (cm)	char. 3	char. 4	char. 5	char. 6
Dennstaedtia punctilobula	reflexed tooth or lobe of leaflet/leafule	12–25(–30)
Pteridium aquilinum	revolute leaf margin	(25–)40–70

Dennstaedtia (hay-scented fern)
[information to be added]

Dennstaedtia punctilobula (eastern hay-scented fern) - single leaf (lower left) and false indusia (lower right)
      
   (click on an image to enlarge)

   Venation:
   
   (click on image to enlarge)

Pteridium (bracken fern)
[information to be added]

Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) - single leaf (lower left) and false indusia (lower right)
      
   (click on an image to enlarge)

Note:
   1. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Flora Novae Angliae by Arthur Haines (2011, Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-17154-9).