Those are just spores on the fertile fronds. It's how ferns reproduce, since ferns don't bloom and produce seeds like flowering plants. It's nothing to worry about. If anything, it means your fern is happy. I found this image online just to provide another example. I bought one earlier this year and mounted it. So it hasn't yet produced any spores. Although, it has been growing lots of new leaves. I hung it on the front of my house and get asked about it quite often.I had one of these many years ago and wanted to try mounting one myself. I love the way it turned out. It's getting some direct morning sun in this photo, some direct sun as it's setting in the evening, and it gets shaded by the overhang of my roof throughout the hottest part of the day. All I do to care for it is spray it with the garden hose in the evening, so that it can soak up as much water as it needs during the night and dry out in the morning sun. Such interesting plants.

Old topic, but I was looking for information on when the spores are ready. I have seen this fern in the wild in NC and have once, when given spores, successfully germinated it and given away many babies over the years. Now I would like to start another group of these plants but am not certain when these spores are ready. Anyone out there have an idea? I have successfully grown other ferns from spores, but usually somebody gives me the spores. I seem unable to collect them at the right time.

It doesn't appear to be a fern. But perhaps you should post this image in the Plant ID forum, where there are many true experts in plant identification. Here is a link that might be useful: Let's get that plant identified, follow me!

Your lovely gift is a Faucaria felina or candida (flower colour will tell). If you plan on keeping it inside, be very careful watering - once a week would be far too much unless you have grow lights. It will very quickly turn to mush if overwatered. A mix with very low water retention is recommended, something gritty or mineral-rich. Do not over pot. Give as much light as possible. It will wrinkle and shrivel slightly when thirsty, as you can see on the lowest leaves of my plant below. Today is watering day! (Mine looks a bit strange, all the brown/yellowish parts are the remains of dead flowers from the fall)