I picked up an unlabeled fern today at a nursery. A little searching suggests that it might be the same as those sold as Doryopteris cordata, sometimes called "antenna fern".

The problem is I'm not finding much information at all on Doryopteris cordata. Is it indeed a valid name? If so, where (location/elevation) is the plant from?

If it is a Doryopteris, is it (pseudo)viviparous, like some members of the genus?

Any info anyone would have on this species would be appreciated. I do not plan on growing it in a terrarrium. I hope to keep it outside if possible. My growing area should be frost free, although there will be a lot of cool (40s and even 30s) nights.

Here are a couple photos. It's a cute little guy, with striking dimorphic leaves. The price was also good, at $2.98. I got it at Half Moon Bay Nursery, in San Mateo County, South of San Francisco.

That's exactly the problem I was running into--it doesn't seem to exist in most databases. However, here's one that does seem to have it:

http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Plantae/Doryopteris_Genus.asp

If one does a search--Google or Google images, there are plants being sold under the name "Doryopteris cordata" that appear very similar or identical to the one I bought.

Based on what I can find it's not clear whether it's a valid name or one that is just being used to sell the plant.

The following matches were found for "Doryopteris cordata":

(Your search term was understood as: Genus = Doryopteris and species = cordata)

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Plant names
o No matching entries found in IPNI
o No matching entries found in WCSP
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Bibliographies
o No matching references found in Kew Record
o No matching references found in Economic botany bibliography
o No matching references found in Library Catalogue
o No matching references found in Micromorphology bibliography
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Collections
o No matching specimens found in Herbarium Catalogue
o No matching specimens found in Economic Botany collection
o No matching specimens found in Living collection
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Species-level information
o No matching records found in Seed Information
o No matching species found in SEPASAL
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Floras
o No matching entries found in Flora Zambesiaca

It's not unusual for incorrect names to be used commercially. Came up before about Alocasia Hilo Beauty which was being sold under that name before it was actually formally described. Turned out it was a Caladium, but continues to be sold as Alocasia Hilo Beauty.

http://www.hort.net/lists/ferns/dec04/msg00009.html

Doryopteris pilosa var. gemmifera was published recently (1990). I can't access that publication, but I did track down the email of the corresponding author. No doubt he will be able to ID the plant, so I'll send him an email.