Stems erect. Leaves dimorphic (only in this species); fertile pinnae distal, much contracted; sterile leaves arching, 3--8 dm; bulblets absent. Petiole 1/4--1/3 length of leaf, densely scaly; scales light brown, diminishing in size distally. Blade linear-lanceolate, 1-pinnate; base narrowed. Pinnae oblong to falcate, not overlapping, in 1 plane, 2--6 cm; base oblique, acroscopic auricles well developed; margins serrulate-spiny with teeth ascending; apex acute or blunt with subapical and apical teeth same size; microscales filiform, lacking projections, dense, on abaxial surface only. Sori confluent, completely covering abaxial surface of pinnae (only in this species); indusia entire. Spores light brown. 2 n = 82.
"Rhizome short-creeping; lvs 3–7.5 dm, the green petiole a fourth to two-fifths as long as the blade; blade pinnate, 5–12 cm wide, lance- linear, acuminate, not reduced at base; pinnae alternate, 20–35 pairs, linear-oblong, acute, sharply auricled at the upper base, dark green and scaleless above, paler and with hair-like scales beneath; fertile upper pinnae abruptly smaller; sori commonly in 2 rows on each side of the midrib; indusium thick, entire, blackish when dry; 2n=82. Woods and open thickets; N.S. to Wis., s. to Fla., Tex., and Mex. A hybrid with no. 2 [Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth] is P. ×hagenahii Cody."
| Name | Language | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas fern, polystic faux-acrostic |
|
