oak fern

American  

noun

1. a small woodland fern, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, of northern regions, having triangular, pinnate fronds that slant horizontally.

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oak fern British  

noun

1. a graceful light green polypody fern, Thelypteris dryopteris, having a creeping rhizome, found in acid woodlands and on rocks in the northern hemisphere

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Etymology

Origin of oak fern

1540–50; translation of Latin dryopteris < Greek dryopterís, equivalent to dryo- (combining form of drŷs oak) + ptéris fern

Example Sentences

Dryópteris, Greek for oak fern, has been chosen by Underwood and Britton and Brown and has grown in favor.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

The parts of the oak fern develop with great regularity, each pinna, pinnule and lobe having another exactly opposite to it nearly always.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

Resembles the oak fern, but with fronds rather larger, especially the terminal segment; also more rigid and coarser in appearance.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

The delicate oak fern grows in great abundance from Eatonville to the timber line, and probably does more to beautify the woods than any other fern.

From The Mountain that was 'God' Being a Little Book About the Great Peak Which the Indians Named 'Tacoma' but Which is Officially Called 'Rainier' by Williams, John H. (John Harvey)

The outlines of the young bracken resemble the little oak fern.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry