Family:     Osmundaceae (Royal fern family)

Duration:  Perennial

Height:     0.5 - 1.8 m (1.5 - 6 ft)

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Royal fern

Osmunda regalis spectabilis (Willd.) A. Gray

Leaves: two different leaves are exhibited on the royal fern; fertile leaves which are erect, light green and differentiate at the top by having reduced tannish-brown pinnae, whereas the sterile leaves look like the lower part of the fertile leaves with winged stalks and bipinnately compound leaf blades.

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SOURCES & FURTHER RESOURCES:

Bonap map - Osmunda

Flora of Wisconsin - Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis

Illinois Wildflowers - Royal fern

Michigan Flora - Osmunda regalis

Midwest herbaria - Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis

Etymology:  The name Osmunda is thought to come from the Saxon name for the Celtic god, Osmunder, or better known as "Thor".  Regalis means royal in Latin and the variation, spectabilis, means "remarkable" in Latin.

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all photos by Nathanael Pilla

Landscape:  A large and luxurious fern that demands attention in your landscape.  It needs wet soil and is found many times in swamps and marshes.