Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter
from the May 22, 2005 Newsletter issued from the Sierra Nevada foothills
somewhat east of Placerville, California, USA
GOLD FERN
The Gold Fern, Pityrogramma triangularis specializes in rocky areas and often growns in rock crevices.
The "gold" part of the fern isn't apparent until you turn over the frond and see the yellow to white, powdery surface, as shown below. The fronds are up to a foot long, triangular, and the stalk is slender, stiff and black.