woodsia

American  

[wood-zee-uh] / ˈwʊd zi ə /

noun

1. any of various small ferns of the genus Woodsia, of northern temperate, alpine, and Arctic regions, having short, stout stalks, usually lance-shaped fronds, and often covered with fine hairs: common on mountains in rocky ledges and crevices.

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woodsia British  

/ ˈwʊdzɪə /

noun

1. any small fern of the genus Woodsia, of temperate and cold regions, having tufted rhizomes and numerous wiry fronds: family Polypodiaceae

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Etymology

Origin of woodsia

From New Latin (1815), after Joseph Woods (1776–1864), English botanist; see -ia

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

woodsia

Naturally enough the greater number are rock ferns--pellæa, cheilanthes, polypodium, adiantum, woodsia, cryptogramma, etc., with small tufted fronds, lining cool glens and fringing the seams of the cliffs.

From The Yosemite by John Muir

The ferns were developed in remarkable beauty and size—aspidiums, one of which is about six feet high, a woodsia, lomaria, and several species of polypodium.

From Travels in Alaska by John Muir

Most of the ferns are in their prime,—rock ferns on the sunny hillsides, cheilanthes, pellæa, gymnogramme; woodwardia, aspidium, woodsia along the stream banks, and the common Pteris aquilina on sandy flats.

From My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir

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