Broad beech fern, Thelypterus hexagonoptera, also known as southern beech fern, inhabits moist woodlands in usually acidic soil and full shade from Quebec and ontario south to FL and eastern TX. The deciduous fronds are broadly triangular with the lowest pair of pinna often mildly decurrent, standing away from the rest of the frond. Grows from a creeping rhizome, developing into colonies of plants. Fornerly known as Dryopteris hexagonoptera.