Leaves monomorphic, green through winter, 32--90 × 10--20 cm. Petiole 1/3 length of leaf, scaly at least at base; scales scattered, tan. Blade green, ovate, 3-pinnate-pinnatifid, herbaceous, glandular. Pinnae ± in plane of blade, lanceolate-oblong; basal pinnae lanceolate, not reduced, basal pinnules longer than adjacent pinnules, basal basiscopic pinnule longer than basal acroscopic pinnule; pinnule margins serrate, teeth spiny. Sori midway between midvein and margin of segments. Indusia with minute glandular hairs. 2 n = 82. Moist rocky woods, especially hemlock hardwoods, ravines, and edges of swamps; 0--2000 m; N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Ala., Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis. A related taxon, Dryopteris intermedia subsp. maderensis (J. Milde ex Alston) Fraser-Jenkins, occurs on eastern Atlantic islands.