Etymology Connectilis is from the Latin, conecto, to fasten together. See the description of the pinnae.

Description Rhizome: long-creeping, branching, black, ovate scales.
Frond: 50 cm high by 15 cm wide, deciduous, new fronds all summer, monomorphic, blade/stipe ratio: 1:1 or less.
Stipe: straw-colored at base, scales tan, lanceolate, below, and pointed hairs on both sides, vascular bundles: 2, elongate, at 90�, merging or not by the top of the stipe.
Blade: 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, triangular, broadest at base, usually somewhat longer than broad, light green, transparent needlelike hairs and spreading, ovate-lanceolate scales on rachis below.
Pinnae: 12 to 15 pair, base fused to rachis, the lowest pair (or two lowest) unconnected by wings to the upper ones, lowest pair typically drooping down and out; costae not grooved, ovate-lanceolate, light tan to shiny brown scales below; veins free, simple or forked.
Sori: round , near the margin, lower pinnae, indusium: absent, sporangia: tan, maturity: early to midsummer.
Dimensionality: lowest pinnae bending forward and down.

Culture Habitat: boreal, wet temperate, and cool climates, moist, calcareous cliff crevices . Distribution: circumboreal. Hardy to -40�C, USDA Zone 2.

Distinctive Characteristics drooping pair of lower leaflets, rachis winged above, not on lowest pinnae

Synonyms
Polypodium connectile Michaux
Dryopteris phegopteris (Linnaeus) C. Christensen
Phegopteris polypodioides F�e
Polypodium phegopteris Linnaeus
Thelypteris phegopteris (Linnaeus) Slosson
Aspidium phegopteris Baumg.
Gymnocarpium phegopteris Newm.
Lastrea phegopteris (L.) Bory
Nephrodium phegopteris (L.) Prantl
Phegopteris phegopteris (L.) Keyserl.
Polystichum phegopteris (L.) Roth