Western Sword Fern

I just bought nine Polystichum munitum, commonly known as the Western Sword Fern.  This fern is a typical understory element in a redwood forest or woodland and is native to California.  They will be planted below the plum tree to the North of South House.  The leaves are evergreen, leathery and finely serrated.  I love the look of the mature plants spores on the underside of the leaves, which you can see in the image below.  The Western Sword Fern looks similar to the Southern Sword Fern, the Nephrolepis cordifolia, as both are in the Polypodiaceae family.  However, the Western Sword Fern can be distinguished by these full circle spores.


Image originally uploaded by June Beetle