Virginia chain-fern, Woodwardia virginica

Chain-fern? There are three explanations offered for the name. I suppose they could all be correct. First, this pattern of veins, with the designs along the ribs certainly deserves attention. Second, a little later in the season spore producing sori line up in neat rows. Finally, the fronds grow individually from creeping roots, not from crowns as many ferns do. Here we're looking at one division of a frond that would be around three feet tall. Virginia chain-fern grows mostly in wetlands (often bogs!) in AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY(V), OH, PA, RI, SC, TN(SC), TX, VA, VT(T), WV, NB, NS, ON, PE, and QC(L). Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw Co MI, 7/6/19.