The Polystichum munitum, more commonly known as the Sword Fern is a member of the Taxanomic order Polypodiales. (Plants.usda.gov, n.d.) Members of this taxonomic order are part of the largest modern fern order and are commonly referred to as “True Ferns”. (Accessscience.com, n.d.) Sword Ferns are members of the family Dryopteridaceae, which consist of almost 850 unique species. (Houston, 2000) Further they can be identified by their large, evergreen fronds. Their leaves tend to be scaly, and often have a lance shape to them. Leaflets also have sharp toothed incurved spine tips on them. (Pojar, MacKinnon & Alaback, 1994) They have sori on 
the underside of the fronds much of the time and these are used in their reproduction process. (Pojar, MacKinnon & Alaback, 1994)
Location:
Located in the pacific northwest stretching from southestern Alaska to Santa barbara, California and stretching east as far as Montana. (Crane, 1989) The sword fern is not typically found past the Rocky Mountains (Vitt, Marsh & Bovey, 1988) and can be found prominently on Vancouver Island as well as the Queen Charlotte Islands. (Crane, 1989) It is common in low to mid level elevations and is typically found in moist coastal forests. (Brietzke & Starzomski, 2013) (Pojar, MacKinnon & Alaback, 1994)
Habitat:
The Sword Fern is found in moist coniferous forests and can occasionally be found in mixed evergreen forests. (Efloras.org, n.d.) It tends to grow stronger int regions with cool summer climates and like partial to full shade. (Perennials.com, n.d.) The Sword Fern also tends to prefer solid, sandy or clay based soils to grow in as well as having a medium growth rate. (Perennials.com, n.d.)
Other Attributes:
In modern times Sword Fern harvesting is a strong economic source. Often used in backdrops of funeral wreaths, landscaping, and herbal medicines. (Efloras.org, n.d.) Aboriginals used the Sword Fern in may different ways. Medicinal uses in teas or creams to help treat aliments such as tonsillitis, boils, and sores were common. (Perennials.com, n.d.) In Coastal British Columbia it was used to create protective layers for traditional oven pits, between food in storage boxes/baskets as well as flooring and bedding. (Pojar, MacKinnon & Alaback, 1994) (Brietzke & Starzomski, 2013) The fern was also used in a game called “Pala-Pala”. The game was a favourite of children in the Vancouver Island and Puget Sound areas of British Columbia. (Pojar, MacKinnon & Alaback, 1994)
Bibliography:
Accessscience.com,. Polypodiales – AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://www.accessscience.com/content/polypodiales/536400
Brietzke, C., & Starzomski, B. (2013). Sword fern • Polystichum munitum. Biodiversity of the Central Coast. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/sword-fern-bull-polystichum-munitum.html
Crane, M. (1989). Polystichum munitum. Fs.fed.us. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/fern/polmun/all.html
Efloras.org,. Polystichum munitum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200004619
Houston, M. (2000). Biogeography of swordfern (Polystichum munitum). Online.sfsu.edu. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/swordfern.html
Klinkenberg, B. (2014). E-Flora BC Atlas Page. Linnet.geog.ubc.ca. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Polystichum%20munitum
Perennials.com,. Plant Profile for Polystichum munitum – Western Sword Fern Perennial. Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://www.perennials.com/plants/polystichum-munitum.html
Plants.usda.gov,. Plants Profile for Polystichum munitum (western swordfern). Retrieved 18 November 2014, from http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POMU
Pojar, J., MacKinnon, A., & Alaback, P. (1994). Plants of coastal British Columbia. Vancouver: Lone Pine Pub.
Vitt, D., Marsh, J., & Bovey, R. (1988). Mosses, lichens & ferns of northwest North America. Edmonton, Alta.: Lone Pine.
Written by James Blumhagen
Ring Creek Field Guide 