Cinnamon Fern

Description:

This plant is about 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall, and the plants tend to be within a couple feet of each other in groups of maybe 4 or more, but not really more than 20 (from what I could see). The stem is about 7mm wide, and at the top of the plant is a lighter green, fern-like structure. This could be a fern, but the bare stem's length made me question that.

Habitat:

The plant was under a pine tree in some shade, but still received decent sunlight. The soil was dry on top, and the ground was covered in leaves and pine straw where the plant was.

Notes:

It took me a while to find the name of this fern, but I finally found it, thanks to a picture of a pubescent cinnamon fern taken by Gary Fewless, whose picture is on the website listed in the references. Thank you Mr. Fewless.