Athyrium filix-femina

Athyrium filix-femina

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Pteridophyta
Class:Polypodiopsida/Pteridopsida
(disputed)
Order:Polypodiales
Family:Athyriaceae
Genus:Athyrium
Species: A. filix-femina
Binomial name
Athyrium filix-femina

Athyrium filix-femina, the lady fern or common lady-fern, is a large, feathery species of fern native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, where it is often abundant (one of the more common ferns) in damp, shady woodland environments and is often grown for decoration.

Its common names "lady fern" and "female fern" refer to how its reproductive structures (sori) are concealed in an inconspicuous – deemed "female" – manner on the frond.[1] Alternatively, it is said to be feminine because of its elegant and graceful appearance.[2]

Characteristics

Leaflets and sori
Unrolling young frond

Athyrium filix-femina is now commonly split into two species, A. angustum (narrow lady fern) and A. asplenioides (southern lady fern). The southern lady fern has a broader frond, especially at the base.

Both species are cespitose (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a rhizome). The deciduous fronds are light yellow-green, 20–90 centimetres (7.9–35.4 in) long and 5–25 cm (2.0–9.8 in) broad. Sori appear as dots on the underside of the frond, 1–6 per pinnule. They are covered by a prominently whitish to brown reniform (kidney-shaped) indusium. Fronds are very dissected, being 3-pinnate. The stipe may bear long, pale brown, papery scales at the base. The spores are yellow on A. angustum and dark brown on A. asplenioides.

A. filix-femina is very hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as −20 °C (−4 °F) throughout its range.[3]

Cultivation and uses

Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • A. filix-femina[3]
  • A. filix-femina 'Vernoniae'[4]
  • A. filix-femina 'Frizelliae'[5]
19th century illustration

The rhizomes and young fronds are poisonous when raw, but edible after cooking.

References

  1. ↑ University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Lady-fern profile
  2. ↑ Wayside and Woodland Blossoms (1895) by Edward Step: "the Male-fern – so-called by our fathers owing to its robust habit as compared with the tender grace of one they called Lady-fern."
  3. 1 2 "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Vernoniae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

Further reading

  • Hyde, H. A., Wade, A. E., & Harrison, S. G. (1978). Welsh Ferns. National Museum of Wales.
  • "Athyrium filix-femina". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Plants for a Future: Athyrium filix-femina
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