Would like opinions on weather or not this also looks like southern wood fern, I had just about settled on the name of river fern, but not sure. They appear to be the same fern with different common names. I dug a few from the branch in the back yard and they have multiplied very rapidly and done very well in every site I have planted them in.


Back side

That is a beautiful photo and an inviting garden. Wouldn't we need more detailed photos to make a positive ID?
This link if for Georgia, but the info is basically the same. http://extension.uga.edu/publi...

In the ATP database they have 2 listed with that common name, so that's not helping:
Southern Wood Fern (Thelypteris kunthii)
Southern woodfern (Dryopteris ludoviciana)

green,
Thanks, I had been to that site on several occasions trying to ID other ferns but should have gone there also for this one. It is not Dryopteris ludoviciana, because my fern is not evergreen, so I need to keep looking.

You need to check the sori under the fronds to be certain, the Hardy Fern Library should be of help.

http://hardyfernlibrary.com/fe...

I added a photo of the back side of the fronds, but I have not been able to exactly match the photo, is seems the sori change appearance at different times of the year.

The sori start 'green' and flat then mature to a puffy brown or black usually, from what I can see they look like a horse shoe shape ..

http://hardyfernlibrary.com/fe...

I can also see some fine hairs on the edges.

There are links on the top left once you go to Thelypteris, one is a key on Flora of North America.

http://www.efloras.org/florata...

European Ostrich? That's what it reminds me of. Although the growth habit doesn't match up.