Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis
This fern gets its name from the fact that it withers with the first frost of the fall. Otherwise it is a tough plant that can grow in poor soil and can be aggressive if planted in the garden. It does not form clumps, and spreads by underground rhizomes as well as by spores. Colonies of sensitive ferns are growing wild in the woods in several areas of the Reservation, and have been planted near the Water Department building.