Athyrium filix-femina: Difference between revisions

Athyrium filix-femina
Conservation status
	; Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Aspleniineae
Family:	Athyriaceae
Genus:	Athyrium
Species:	A. filix-femina
Binomial name
	Athyrium filix-femina; (L.) Roth

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Athyrium filix-femina, the lady fern or common lady-fern, is a large, feathery species of fern native to temperate Asia, Europe, North Africa, Canada and the US.^[1] 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.^[2] Alternatively, it is said to be feminine because of its elegant and graceful appearance.^[3]^[4]

Description

Athyrium filix-femina is now commonly split into three species, typical A. filix-femina, A. angustum (narrow lady fern) and A. asplenioides (southern lady fern).

Athyrium filix-femina is 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. Overall frond shape tends to be elliptical, with the bottom pinnae shorter in length than those in the middle.

Sori appear as narrow ovate dots on the underside of the frond,^[5] 1–6 per pinnule. They are covered by a prominently whitish to brown reniform (kidney-shaped) indusium.^[4] 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.

Habitat

A. filix-femina is very hardy, tolerating temperatures well below −20 °C (−4 °F) throughout its range.'^[6]

In Finland as a native plant, A. filix-femina is at its most abundant in inland lake areas but grows commonly in almost the whole country, excluding Lapland where it is rare. The plant prefers especially mesotrophic eutrophic paludified hardwood-spruce forest (lehtokorpi in Finnish). It is also abundant in coastal groves, sides of creeks and areas with springs. Even though the plant gets easily frostbitten and therefore does not like open areas, it can still be found often also in ditches near roads and fields.^[5]

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 'Vernoniae'^[7]
A. filix-femina 'Frizelliae'^[8]

The young fronds are edible after cooking; Native Americans cook both the fiddleheads and the rhizomes.^[9]

Names

The Finnish name for this plant is hiirenporras, literally meaning "mouse's stair".

References

^ "Athyrium filix-femina". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
^ University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Lady-fern profile Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ 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."
^ ^a ^b Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 30. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.
^ ^a ^b Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 34. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.
^ "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
^ "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Vernoniae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
^ "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
^ Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076.

External links

[GRIN-1] "Athyrium filix-femina". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

[2] University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Lady-fern profile Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

[3] 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."

[Piirainen-4] Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 30. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.

[Piirainen2-5] Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 34. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.

[6] "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

[RHSPF2-7] "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Vernoniae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

[RHSPF3-8] "RHS Plantfinder - Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

[9] Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076.

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{speciesbox
 | image = Athyrium filix-femina0.jpg
-| status = G5
+| status = {{TNCStatus}}
 | status_system = TNC
 | genus = Athyrium
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 }}
-'''''Athyrium filix-femina''''', the '''lady fern''' or '''common lady-fern''', is a large, feathery species of [[fern]] [[native plant|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.
+'''''Athyrium filix-femina''''', the '''lady fern''' or '''common lady-fern''', is a large, feathery species of [[fern]] [[native plant|native]] to [[temperate climate|temperate]] Asia, Europe, North Africa, Canada and the US.<ref name = GRIN>{{GRIN}}</ref> 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 ([[Sorus|sori]]) are concealed in an inconspicuous – deemed "female" – manner on the frond.<ref>University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, [http://uwarboretum.org/foa/plant_sale/Lady%20Fern.pdf Lady-fern profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927084440/http://uwarboretum.org/foa/plant_sale/Lady%20Fern.pdf |date=2013-09-27 }}</ref> Alternatively, it is said to be feminine because of its elegant and graceful appearance.<ref>''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."</ref>
+Its common names "lady fern" and "female fern" refer to how its reproductive structures ([[Sorus|sori]]) are concealed in an inconspicuous – deemed "female" – manner on the frond.<ref>University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, [http://uwarboretum.org/foa/plant_sale/Lady%20Fern.pdf Lady-fern profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927084440/http://uwarboretum.org/foa/plant_sale/Lady%20Fern.pdf |date=2013-09-27 }}</ref> Alternatively, it is said to be feminine because of its elegant and graceful appearance.<ref>''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."</ref><ref name="Piirainen">{{cite book |last1=Piirainen |first1=Mikko |title=Kotimaan luonnonkasvit |last2=Piirainen |first2=Pirkko |last3=Vainio |first3=Hannele |date=1999 |publisher=WSOY |isbn=951-0-23001-4 |location=Porvoo, Finland |page=30 |language=fi |trans-title=Native wild plants}}</ref>
-==Characteristics==
+==Description==
 [[File:Athyrium filix-femina Sori Tannwald1.jpg|thumb|left|Leaflets and sori]]
+''Athyrium filix-femina'' is now commonly split into three species, typical ''A. filix-femina'', ''[[Athyrium angustum|A. angustum]]'' (narrow lady fern) and ''[[Athyrium asplenioides|A. asplenioides]]'' (southern lady fern).
-[[File:Unidentified fern, Cambridge University Botanic Garden.jpg|thumb|right|Unrolling young frond]]
-''Athyrium filix-femina'' is now commonly split into three species, typical ''A. filix-femina'', ''[[Athyrium angustum|A. angustum]]'' (narrow lady fern) and ''[[Athyrium asplenioides|A. asplenioides]]'' (southern lady fern).
-''Athyrium filix-femina'' is cespitose (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a [[rhizome]]). The [[deciduous]] [[frond]]s are light yellow-green, {{convert|20|-|90|cm}} long and {{convert|5|-|25|cm|abbr=on}} broad. [[Sorus|Sori]] appear as dots on the underside of the frond, 1–6 per [[wiktionary:pinnule|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''.
+''Athyrium filix-femina'' is [[Glossary of botanical terms|cespitose]] (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a [[rhizome]]). The [[deciduous]] [[frond]]s are light yellow-green, {{convert|20|-|90|cm}} long and {{convert|5|-|25|cm|abbr=on}} broad. Overall frond shape tends to be elliptical, with the bottom pinnae shorter in length than those in the middle.
+[[Sorus|Sori]] appear as narrow ovate dots on the underside of the frond,<ref name="Piirainen2">{{cite book |last1=Piirainen |first1=Mikko |title=Kotimaan luonnonkasvit |last2=Piirainen |first2=Pirkko |last3=Vainio |first3=Hannele |date=1999 |publisher=WSOY |isbn=951-0-23001-4 |location=Porvoo, Finland |page=34 |language=fi |trans-title=Native wild plants}}</ref> 1–6 per [[wiktionary:pinnule|pinnule]]. They are covered by a prominently whitish to brown reniform (kidney-shaped) [[indusium]].<ref name="Piirainen" /> 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 {{convert|-20|C|F}} throughout its range.<ref name = RHSPF1 />
-==Cultivation and uses==
+== Habitat ==
+''A. filix-femina'' is very hardy, tolerating temperatures well below {{convert|-20|C|F}} throughout its range.'<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1897/i-Athyrium-filix-femina-i/Details
-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''<ref name = RHSPF1>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1897/i-Athyrium-filix-femina-i/Details
 |title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Athyrium filix-femina''
 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate=12 January 2018}}</ref>
+In [[Finland]] as a [[Native species|native plant]], ''A. filix-femina'' is at its most abundant in inland lake areas but grows commonly in almost the whole country, excluding [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] where it is rare. The plant prefers especially [[Mesotrophic soil|mesotrophic]] eutrophic paludified hardwood-spruce forest (''lehtokorpi'' in Finnish). It is also abundant in coastal groves, sides of creeks and areas with springs. Even though the plant gets easily frostbitten and therefore does not like open areas, it can still be found often also in ditches near roads and fields.<ref name="Piirainen2" />
+==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'' 'Vernoniae'<ref name = RHSPF2>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/25932/i-Athyrium-filix-femina-i-Vernoniae/Details
 |title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Athyrium filix-femina'' 'Vernoniae'
@@ Line 35: / Line 38: @@
 [[Image:Illustration Athyrium filix-femina0.jpg|thumb|upright|19th century illustration]]
-The young fronds are edible after cooking; Native Americans cooked both the fiddleheads and the [[rhizome]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Benoliel|first=Doug|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/668195076|title=Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest|publisher=Skipstone|year=2011|isbn=978-1-59485-366-1|edition=Rev. and updated|location=Seattle, WA|pages=109|oclc=668195076}}</ref>
+The young fronds are edible after cooking; Native Americans cook both the [[fiddleheads]] and the [[rhizome]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Benoliel|first=Doug|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/668195076|title=Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest|publisher=Skipstone|year=2011|isbn=978-1-59485-366-1|edition=Rev. and updated|location=Seattle, WA|pages=109|oclc=668195076}}</ref>
+== Names ==
+The [[Finnish language|Finnish]] name for this plant is ''hiirenporras'', literally meaning "mouse's stair".
 ==References==
@@ Line 43: / Line 49: @@
 *Hyde, H. A., Wade, A. E., & Harrison, S. G. (1978). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20121015234829/http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/Welsh_Ferns.pdf Welsh Ferns]''. National Museum of Wales.
-==External links== k
+==External links==
-{{commonscat|Athyrium filix-femina}}
+{{commons category|Athyrium filix-femina}}
 *{{GRIN}}
 *[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Athyrium+filix-femina Plants for a Future: ''Athyrium filix-femina'']
@@ Line 57: / Line 63: @@
 [[Category:Flora of Ontario]]
 [[Category:Flora of Europe]]
-[[Category:Flora of North America]]
+[[Category:Flora of Northern America]]
 [[Category:Flora of Asia]]
 [[Category:Plants described in 1753]]