Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

The sterile fronds of ostrich fern are 2-10 ft. tall, once-pinnate, tapered at both base and apex, brown-stemmed, and slightly scaly. Fertile fronds are shorter, with edges of pinnae turned in to form a beaded plume persistent through winter. The rootstock is creeping, producing urn-like clusters of fronds. Grows in swamps; bottomland woods and thickets.