Christmas fern

English thumb|Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides species) Etymology en evergreen fern :af Christmas fern 0 en John Robinson (botanist) John Robinson American botanist 1873. Polystichum acrostichoides species had already become a common ornamental plant in the northeastern United States, with its fronds remaining green through Christmas in late December. Noun An evergreen fern (Polystichum acrostichoides species) of eastern North America. en 1873 Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club John Torrey IV 19 D. C. Eaton Our well-known Aspidium acrostichoides, so available for winter decorations, is happily christened Cʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs Fᴇʀɴ a name which I certainly hope will be generally adopted. en 1899 Fern Bulletin: A Quarterly Devoted to Ferns VII 15 W. R. Maxon In reference to Dryopteris acrostichoides, it may be of interest to note the origin of the best known common name. The name christmas fern appears to have been thus applied for a comparatively short time. en 2006 Lynn M. Steiner Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan 9781610604345 135 Christmas fern can be massed as groundcover, or a clump looks nice tucked into the base of a stump. References Polystichum acrostichoides 1 Polystichum acrostichoides 1 en Ferns