If this is actually a fern a frond cutting is not going to root for you in my experience. I really can't offer a guess without a picture since it could be any number of fern.

To me, this sounds like it may not be a fern. Ferns don't have branches, first off. Also, there are tree-like plants among the ferns, but normally we call them tree ferns, not fern trees. There are a few non-fern trees that I've heard people refer to as "fern trees".

Harrywitmore's suggestion to post a picture would be the easiest way to get help here. Otherwise, find a decent book on ferns that shows the names of the parts of a fern so you could maybe describe it a litte better, using the right terms. A two foot wide branch is pretty darned big for a six foot tall plant of any type ;)

A picture is worth a thousand words...