Not a fern. Looks familiar, but I can't think of what it is...

Patrick Alexander

How do you know that it's not a fern? Is it missing, or does it have, some distinctive characteristic?

Tell us more about this plant. What size are these leaves and where is the plant located? The image suggests (to my eyes) that these leaves are almost fuzzy. Is that true?

Any chance of an in situ photograph?

Comptonia peregrina - common name Sweet Fern, hence the confusion.

Debbie

It seems we already have the answer to the identity, but I'll give more details anyway. The piece in the photo is about four inches long. I have seen it twice in the wild, both time under the canopy of decidious trees. The leaves are almost leathery. I can't get a picture now, as both locations are miles away and I have to clean up my gardens!
Thanks to everyone for their help!

And to answer your other question a little bit: we knew it wasn't a fern because your plant has physical characteristics not shared by ferns. Woody twigs, axillary buds (for example), and the growth habit are quite different.