Identifying Southwest Florida's Ferns

This identification guide is only for ferns and fern allies that are commonly found in the inland areas of Southwest Florida, particularly Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. Only 38 of the recognized 164 species of ferns found in the state of Florida are known to currently exist in the sanctuary, so using this guide to identify ferns from other habitats in Southwest Florida, such as coastal or mangrove areas, or from other areas in the state may not help.

If you are not familiar with basic fern terminology, you may wish to print out the illustrated, one-page pdf glossary for reference.

How to use the guide:

1. Identify the type of frond using the chart below. Click on the photograph of the correct type.

2. Answer each of the yes-no questions that follows by clicking on "yes" or proceding to the next question.

3. When you run out of questions, you have identified the fern.

Simple The leaf is undivided along the edges.	Pinnatifid The leaf is cut nearly to the rachis but not quite.	Pinnate The blades are divided into leaflets; each leaflet is narrowly attached to the rachis.	Pinnate-Pinnatifid Pinnate because it has separate leaflets on the rachis, and pinnatifid because each of those leaflets is cut.
Bipinnate The blades are divided into leaflets, and each leaflet has its own leaflet.	Bipinnate-Pinnatifid The blades are divided into leaflets, and each leaflet has its own leaves that are cut.	Palmate The leaves are palm-like to hand-like in shape.	Water The fern is free-floating on the water surface or rooted under standing water.