Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides (Dryopteridaceae)

This fern was taken in the morning of April 16, 2012 on my Dragon’s Tooth hike in Catawba, Va. Notice the elf shaped boot pinna. These fiddleheads aren’t good to eat. They’re too hairy and don’t taste good.

Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris (Dryopteridaceae)

This fern was taken in the afternoon of April 11, 2012 in the Hahn Horticulture Garden. The fiddleheads of this fern is palatable but not extraordinary; it tastes more or less like grass.

Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ (Dryopteridaceae)

This painted fern was taken in the afternoon of April 11, 2012. One of the neat characteristics about this fern is that it’s very colorful; it varies from maroon, gray, and green. I would even argue that it looks purple sometimes.