ostrich fern

Any of various ferns of the genus Matteuccia, especially M. struthiopteris, of northern temperate regions, having long plumelike fronds.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Noun

ostrich fern - tall fern of northern temperate regions having graceful arched fronds and sporophylls resembling ostrich plumes

fiddlehead, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Onoclea struthiopteris, Pteretis struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern

fern - any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

genus Matteuccia, genus Pteretis, Matteuccia, Pteretis - small genus sometimes included in genus Onoclea; in some classifications both genera are placed in Polypodiaceae

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References in periodicals archive

THE wonderful shuttlecock or ostrich fern is beautiful in spring, when the large, green, lacy fronds unfurl and filter the sunlight.

Let an ostrich into your plot; TOP 10 Hardy ferns

Smaller but striking too is the Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) whose upright fronds are arranged like a shuttlecock.

plant of the week

Clark also identified trout lily for those asking about it and said the area was one of the few in Petersham where ostrich fern would grow.

A hike into the Swift River's history

The Shuttlecock or Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a suitable one for any smaller garden, with its upright, shuttlecock appearance and relatively well-behaved habit of growth.

GARDENING: Hardy ferns recapture glory days of Victoriang

Vines: Hardy Kiwi, Schisandra, Cherry Tomatoes, Hops Perennial/Biennial Plants: Egyptian Walking Onion, Ostrich Fern

It's beautiful, it's edible, it's in your own backyard ... it's edible landscaping!

Fiddleheads are the young coiled leaves of the ostrich fern (Matteuccua struthiopteris).

Fiddleheads: nature's spring taste treat

Most ferns have long unfamiliar names so look out for their common names, shuttlecock fern or ostrich fern.

Gardening: Shady partners make for the dark corners; Ferns are surging ahead in popularity and are readily available, says Roger Clarke

Matteuccia struthiopteris is usually known as the shuttlecock, or ostrich fern. Shuttlecock fern is really the best description, as the elegant clumps do look like old- fashioned feather shuttlecocks.

Spring shuttle service; Plant of the week

For example fiddleheads are the young shoots of the Ostrich fern found growing in clumps in the marsh.

Using wild plants

Auxin effects on vascular differentiation in ostrich fern. Ann.

Anatomy and development of the fern sporophyte

Just as undercooked meat or fowl can make a meal sickening, so, too, raw or lightly cooked ostrich fern may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Foul ferns