This graceful fern populates rich deciduous woods and rocky ledges, performing its best in slightly alkaline to neutral soil. It is present all across Massachusetts (except for only Cape Cod and the Islands), yet much more frequent in the west. The more to the east, the rarer it becomes, completely disappearing in the southeastern part of state. Young stem green. Frond semi-circular, fan-shaped, formed by division of rachis into two branches.