sensitive fern

noun

Onoclea sensibilis, a coarse-textured, medium to large-sized deciduous perennial fern.

Similar
bead fernOnoclea sensibilis
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Meanings

nounsensitive fern (plural sensitive ferns)

plural sensitive ferns

  1. Onoclea sensibilis, a coarse-textured, medium to large-sized deciduous perennial fern.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounbeautiful spreading fern of eastern North America and eastern Asia naturalized in western Europe; pinnately divided fronds show a slight tendency to fold when touched; pinnules enclose groups of sori in beadlike lobes

Similar
bead fernOnoclea sensibilis
Broader
fern
Also see
bead fern

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the observation by early American settlers that the plant is very sensitive to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch bolletjesvaren
  • bolletjesvarenOnoclea sensibilis
Cite this entry
APA

sensitive fern. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensitive%20fern

MLA

“sensitive fern.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensitive%20fern. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sensitive fern,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensitive%20fern.

Source: sensitive fern on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.