ClipArt ETC

The Ferns ClipArt gallery contains 178 illustrations of ferns from around the world. Ferns differ from normal plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) by having spores instead of seeds, and are vasclar plants, differing from lycophytes by having true leaves, which are also known as megaphylls.

All illustrations in the ClipArt ETC collection are line drawings. If you are looking for color photographs of ferns, please visit the ClipPix ETC website.

Davallia bullata has a creeping rootstock clothed with light, hair like scales. The leaves are scattered and six to ten inches long.

Davallia Bullata

Davallia bullata has a creeping rootstock clothed with light, hair like scales. The leaves are scattered…

Tree ferns that are dead can be used but covering it with other small ferns for decoration.

Dead Tree Fern, Decorated with Ferns

Tree ferns that are dead can be used but covering it with other small ferns for decoration.

Illustrated is the tip of a leaf of dennstaedtia punctilobula. The leaves are one to two and a half feet long. The leaves are light green.

Dennstaedtia Punctiolbula

Illustrated is the tip of a leaf of dennstaedtia punctilobula. The leaves are one to two and a half…

Illustrated is the fruiting lobe of dennstaedtia punctilobula.

Dennstaedtia Punctilobula

Illustrated is the fruiting lobe of dennstaedtia punctilobula.

Didymochlaena lunulata is native from Cuba to Brazil. The leaves are clustered from an erect, rigid stem. The leaves are three to six feet long.

Didymochlaena Lunulata

Didymochlaena lunulata is native from Cuba to Brazil. The leaves are clustered from an erect, rigid…

Dryopteris marginalis is native from Canada southward. It is a very common fern. The leaves are six inches to two feet long.

Dryopteris Marginalis

Dryopteris marginalis is native from Canada southward. It is a very common fern. The leaves are six…

Dryopteris parasitica is native to the tropical regions of both hemispheres. It often grows as a weed in greenhouses.

Dryopteris Parasitica

Dryopteris parasitica is native to the tropical regions of both hemispheres. It often grows as a weed…

Scalariform ducts of a Fern, torn into a band.

Ducts

Scalariform ducts of a Fern, torn into a band.

The common name of elaphoglossum crinitum is elephant ear fern. The blades are ten to eighteen inches long and four to eight inches wide. The fertile leaves are smaller on shorter stalks.

Elaphoglossum Crinitum

The common name of elaphoglossum crinitum is elephant ear fern. The blades are ten to eighteen inches…

Elaphoglossum villosum is native to Mexico and the west Indies. The sterile blades are six to nine inches long. The fertile leaves have abundant slender, dark brown scales.

Elaphoglossum Villosum

Elaphoglossum villosum is native to Mexico and the west Indies. The sterile blades are six to nine inches…

This is a type of fern referred to as the holy Japanese fern.

Cyrtomium Falcatum

This is a type of fern referred to as the holy Japanese fern.

A common fern plant.

Fern

A common fern plant.

A common fern plant.

Fern

A common fern plant.

"A, Upper epidermis; B, lower epidermis, of the fern, Drynaria meyeniana." -Gager, 1916

Fern Epidermis

"A, Upper epidermis; B, lower epidermis, of the fern, Drynaria meyeniana." -Gager, 1916

"Fossil Fern (Neuropteris)." -Taylor, 1904

Fern Fossil

"Fossil Fern (Neuropteris)." -Taylor, 1904

A fossil fern (Pterophyllum) in a piece of jet.

Fern Fossil

A fossil fern (Pterophyllum) in a piece of jet.

"Phlebopteris–a characteristic Oolite fern." -Taylor, 1904

Fern Fossil

"Phlebopteris–a characteristic Oolite fern." -Taylor, 1904

"Frond of fern bearing sporangia in sori."—Finley, 1917

Fern frond

"Frond of fern bearing sporangia in sori."—Finley, 1917

"Germination of the spores of a fern. a, Before germination; b, early stage, showing protonema (pr.), and first rhizoid (rh); c, d, e, f, successive stages in the development of the prothallus." -Gager, 1916

Fern Germination

"Germination of the spores of a fern. a, Before germination; b, early stage, showing protonema (pr.),…

"A, B, C, D, Successive stages of growth of prothallium from the spore in Osmunda cinnamomea; E, growth of fern plant from fertilized egg within the prothallium of Osmunda Claytoniana." -Stevens, 1916

Fern Growth

"A, B, C, D, Successive stages of growth of prothallium from the spore in Osmunda cinnamomea; E, growth…

"Fern leaves, showing various degrees of subdivision or branching of the blade. A, Phyllitis; B, Polypodium; C, Pteris; D, Adiantum." -Gager, 1916

Fern Leaves

"Fern leaves, showing various degrees of subdivision or branching of the blade. A, Phyllitis; B, Polypodium;…

"Fern prothallus; cross-sections showing antheridia (an), sperms (sp), and rhizoids (rh). Below at the right is a sperm (sp) greatly enlarged." -Gager, 1916

Fern Prothallus

"Fern prothallus; cross-sections showing antheridia (an), sperms (sp), and rhizoids (rh). Below at the…

"A, Antheridium containing sperm cells; B, archegonium containing an egg cell which has been found by five sperm cells. All from Osmunda cinnamomea." -Stevens, 1916

Fern Reproduction

"A, Antheridium containing sperm cells; B, archegonium containing an egg cell which has been found by…

"Spore-plant of a fern (Aspidium filix-mas). A, part of a rootstock and fronds; fr, young fronds unrollin. B, under side of a pinnule, showing sori, s. C, section through a sorus at right angles to surface of leaf, showing indusium, i, and sporangia, s. D, a sporangium discharging spores." -Bergen, 1896

Fern Spore Plant

"Spore-plant of a fern (Aspidium filix-mas). A, part of a rootstock and fronds; fr, young fronds unrollin.…

The Antrophyum Lessonii is a type of fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

Antrophyum Fern

The Antrophyum Lessonii is a type of fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

The spore-cases and cup of Trichomanes radicans or the Aerialroot Bristle Fern.

Aerialroot Bristle Fern

The spore-cases and cup of Trichomanes radicans or the Aerialroot Bristle Fern.

Schizaea pusilla, or Little Curlygrass Fern is a small species of fern in the Curlygrass family (Schizaeaceae). here showing: "a, pinnule with sporangia; b, a sporangium, on larger scale." -Whitney, 1911

Curlygrass Fern

Schizaea pusilla, or Little Curlygrass Fern is a small species of fern in the Curlygrass family (Schizaeaceae).…

"The Fern is a leafy plant springing from a rhizome, which creeps below or on the surface of the ground or rises into the air like the trunk of a tree. This trunk does not taper, but is of equal diameter at both ends. Some tree ferns reach 75 feet high."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Giant Tree Fern

"The Fern is a leafy plant springing from a rhizome, which creeps below or on the surface of the ground…

The maidenhair fern or Adiantum.

Maidenhair Fern

The maidenhair fern or Adiantum.

"Top, lateral pinna from a leaf of Marattia jraxinea. Below at left, synangium of same. At right, corss-section of the synangium." -Gager, 1916

Marratia Fern

"Top, lateral pinna from a leaf of Marattia jraxinea. Below at left, synangium of same. At right, corss-section…

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris obtusiloba) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous Era.

Seed Fern

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris obtusiloba) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous Era.

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris latifolia) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous period.

Seed Fern

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris latifolia) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous period.

Eremopteris artemisiaefolia is a species of "a genus of fossil ferns, separated from Sphenopteris." -Whitney, 1911

Fossil Fern

Eremopteris artemisiaefolia is a species of "a genus of fossil ferns, separated from Sphenopteris."…

"Portion of fossil tree fern (Pecopteris arborescens) on coal shale." -Taylor, 1904

Fossil Tree Fern

"Portion of fossil tree fern (Pecopteris arborescens) on coal shale." -Taylor, 1904

The fronds of the gleichenia circinata fern have recurved margins. The branches can have fine short hair.

Gleichenia Circinata

The fronds of the gleichenia circinata fern have recurved margins. The branches can have fine short…

Gleichenia circinata semi-vestita is very similar to gleichenia circinata. The young fronds of semi-vestita have fine hair.

Gleichenia Circinata Semi-Vestita

Gleichenia circinata semi-vestita is very similar to gleichenia circinata. The young fronds of semi-vestita…

Gymnogramme calomelanos chrysophylla ferns have dark racemes. The fronds have yellow powder.

Frond of Gymnogramme Calomelanos Chrysophylla

Gymnogramme calomelanos chrysophylla ferns have dark racemes. The fronds have yellow powder.

Gymnogramme calomelanos peruviana ferns have smaller fronds than other gymnogramme ferns. The leaves and fronds have a triangular shape.

Gymnogramme Calomelanos Peruviana

Gymnogramme calomelanos peruviana ferns have smaller fronds than other gymnogramme ferns. The leaves…

Gymnogramme decomposita ferns have lance and triangular shaped fronds. This fern is covered in yellow powder.

Gymnogramme Decomposita

Gymnogramme decomposita ferns have lance and triangular shaped fronds. This fern is covered in yellow…

The fronds of the gymnogramme javanica fern are one to four feet long. The leaves are glossy.

Gymnogramme Javanica

The fronds of the gymnogramme javanica fern are one to four feet long. The leaves are glossy.

The fronds of the gymnogrammee schizophylla fern are one and a half to two feet long. The fronds gracefully arch and are very finely cut.

Gymnogramme Schizophylla

The fronds of the gymnogrammee schizophylla fern are one and a half to two feet long. The fronds gracefully…

Gymnogramme tartarea ferns have fronds that are one to two feet long. The powder on the fern is dense and pure white.

Gymnogramme Tartarea

Gymnogramme tartarea ferns have fronds that are one to two feet long. The powder on the fern is dense…

Hemionites palmata is a fern. The fronds are two to six inches long. The fronds are palm shaped with five equal divisions.

Hemionites Palmata

Hemionites palmata is a fern. The fronds are two to six inches long. The fronds are palm shaped with…

The fronds of the hemitella speciosa fern are eight to twelve inches long and one to one and a half inches broad. The leaves have a satiny texture.

Hemitella Speciosa

The fronds of the hemitella speciosa fern are eight to twelve inches long and one to one and a half…

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola, bearing sporangia. 3. Spore, with elaters coiled about it." -Whitney, 1911

Wood Horsetail

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola,…

This hybrid species of fern features vascular roots.

Fern Hybrid

This hybrid species of fern features vascular roots.

The hymenophyllaceae order consists of very delicate ferns. The cyatheaceae order usually consists of tree ferns with large leaves. The polypodiaceae order consists of ferns of very diverse habit.

Hymenophyllaceae, Cyatheaceae, and Polypodiaceae

The hymenophyllaceae order consists of very delicate ferns. The cyatheaceae order usually consists of…

The common name of hymenophyllum is Filmy Fern. The falklandicum variety is native to the Falkan Islands. The fronds are one to two inches long.

Hymenophyllum Falklandicum

The common name of hymenophyllum is Filmy Fern. The falklandicum variety is native to the Falkan Islands.…

The common name of hymenophyllum is filmy fern. The turbridgense variety has oblong fronds that taper to a point. The fern is native to temperate regions.

Hymenophyllum Turbridgense

The common name of hymenophyllum is filmy fern. The turbridgense variety has oblong fronds that taper…

The common name of hymenophyllum is filmy fern. The unilaterale variety has dark green, rigid fronds. This fern is native to Great Britain.

Habit and Detached Pinna with Involucre of Hymenophyllum Unilaterale

The common name of hymenophyllum is filmy fern. The unilaterale variety has dark green, rigid fronds.…

The lady fern in the popular name of the fern 'Asplenium filix-foemina'. It is variable in size and detail, of very graceful habit, and of thin, almost transparent texture, with conspicuous venation. Its color is a most delicate green. The fronds are lanceolate and bipinnate, and are developed from the summit of the caudex. Many varieties are found wild, such as 'marinum', whose fronds taper from their centers toward either extremity; 'latifolium'; and 'convexum', whose fronds are much narrower than in the common type. The lady fern and its varieties are easily cultivated in any damp, shady spot.

Lady Fern

The lady fern in the popular name of the fern 'Asplenium filix-foemina'. It is variable in size and…

This is the leaf of the common fern, or brake. On the back of the leaf are spores.

Fern Leaf

This is the leaf of the common fern, or brake. On the back of the leaf are spores.

Lindsaya reniformis is a rare species of fern. The fronds are two to four inches across. The fronds are sometimes lobed.

Lindsaya Reniformis

Lindsaya reniformis is a rare species of fern. The fronds are two to four inches across. The fronds…

The rhizome of the lomaria alpina stem is slender and wide creeping. There are both barren and fertile fronds.

Lomaria Alpina

The rhizome of the lomaria alpina stem is slender and wide creeping. There are both barren and fertile…

Lomaria gibba robusta is a garden form. The habit is robust.

Lomaria Gibba Robusta

Lomaria gibba robusta is a garden form. The habit is robust.

The tips of the lomaria spicant trinervis coronans fern have a large crest at the end.

Lomaria Spicant Trinvervis Coronans

The tips of the lomaria spicant trinervis coronans fern have a large crest at the end.

"Moonwort, or moon—fern, in botany belonging to the order Ophioglossaceae. It has a tuberous root—stock and a stout fleshy glabrous fround 3 to 6 in. long, with a sterile and fertile portion." —Encyclopaedia Britannica

Botrychium Lunaria Moonwort Fern with Root

"Moonwort, or moon—fern, in botany belonging to the order Ophioglossaceae. It has a tuberous root—stock…

Lygodium japonicum is a climbing fern. The fern is native to Japan and the east Indies.

Lygodium Japonicum

Lygodium japonicum is a climbing fern. The fern is native to Japan and the east Indies.

The primary leafstalk of lygodium japonicum is very short. The secondary leafstalk is a half inch to one inch long. This fern can be found from Japan to Australia.

Habit and Portion of Detached Frond of Lygodium Japonicum

The primary leafstalk of lygodium japonicum is very short. The secondary leafstalk is a half inch to…

The primary leafstalk of lygodium palmatum is very slender, about an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an inch long. This fern can be found on the east coast of the United States, from Massachusetts to Florida.

Lygodium Palmatum

The primary leafstalk of lygodium palmatum is very slender, about an eighth of an inch to a quarter…