Growing in deep mesic woods, several of them only have a single divided leaf, the one pictured seems to be ready to reproduce.

Very pretty and unusual!

I have so much to learn about native woodland plants!
I've seen more plants that I can't id than I can out in these woods!

It looks like one of the ferns known as "Grape Ferns." It could be in the genus Botrychium or maybe Sceptridium. That's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject.

Yes!
Grape fern it is!

Are these rare or uncommon?

I think it varies depending on the species. It seems they can range anywhere from fairly common to endangered in some states. I'm not sure how to tell the different species apart.

I agree, Grape Fern. It looks a lot like Grape Fern (Sceptridium dissectum) I found some here once and yanked them, thinking they were weeds.

http://www.illinoiswildflowers...


Well, actually upon closer view, it's probably not the cut-leaf.

Well I haven't had a chance to delve deeper, but it didn't look like cutleaf, but certainly has a very cut leaf design!

I found quite a few!
I think I'll try to spread a few around to other less established woods!
I gathered hundreds of seeds today for said reason!

The woods are just amazing!
These woods are the most u usually I've found in the bluegrass region, which has basically been cleared and homogenized for god knows how long...a long time!