Pteridium aquilinum

The species in the broad sense is the most abundant fern on the planet, though more properly it probably consists of several more limited species, currently treated as varieties. My pictures are of Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens from southeastern Arizona.

Plant habit at Barfoot Park in the Chiricahua Mts., AZ, 9/5/04.

Immature marginal sori at Barfoot Park, 9/5/04.

Expanding leaf at Barfoot Park, 9/5/04.