Polystichum brauni is a huge fern, but for a long time, it was barely known from Minnesota. In recent years, more discoveries have been made of this rare Minnesota species.
Description
Polystichum braunii is a large fern with shiny, leathery, arching, broadly lanceolate fronds 0.2 to 1 meter in height. These grow in a rosette from a central erect stem. The petioles are 1/8 to 1/6 the length of the blade. The petiole and blade are densely covered in light golden brown scales, which gradually become smaller distally.
The blade is broadly lanceolate, bipinnate, and narrow at the base. The pinnae are oblong-lanceolate to curved, in one plane, and not overlapping. The apex is acute. The short-falcate to oblique-rhombic pinnules are finely dentate along the margins with slender bristles.
Habitat
In Polystichum brauni grows in cool, humid ravines and cool, moist forests.
Distribution
Polystichum brauni has a disjunct North American distribution. It also occurs in Eurasia.
Not Very Far Away 