Athyrium filix-femina: Difference between revisions
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'''''Athyrium filix-femina''''' ('''lady fern''' or '''common lady-fern''') is a large, feathery species of [[fern]] |
'''''Athyrium filix-femina''''' ('''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. |
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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]</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]</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> |
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Revision as of 13:26, 22 April 2017
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| Athyrium filix-femina | |
Athyrium filix-femina (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
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.
Cultivation and uses
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
The rhizomes and young fronds are poisonous when raw, but edible after cooking.
References
- ^ University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Lady-fern profile
- ^ 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."
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector Athyrium filix-femina AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
Further reading
- Hyde, H. A., Wade, A. E., & Harrison, S. G. (1978). Welsh Ferns. National Museum of Wales.
External links
