An erect, deciduous fern with a shortly creeping, upright rootstock and pale brown rhachis scales.   

Not always easily separated from Dryopteris dilatata and their commonly produced hybrid Dryopteris × ⁠deweveri. The triangular scales on D. dilatata rachis have a dark centre which is a diagnostic character that helps to separate that species from D. carthusiana.

Good quality images required please, showing the pale brown rhachis scales as well as the whole plant.

Damp habitats such as wet woodland. It prefers rich alluvial soils with a high water table.

Shoots appear in spring and die back in autumn.

Deciduous.

Quite widespread in Britain, although it may have declined over the past 100 years due to drainage. It is easily overlooked, so may be present in some areas where it has not been previously recorded.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, being most frequent in the Charnwood Forest area of VC55.