DRYOPTERIDACEAE

WOOD FERN FAMILY

Alan R. Smith and Thomas Lemieux

Perennial, in soil or rock crevices; rhizome generally short-creeping, suberect, or erect, scales large, generally tan to brown, generally 1-colored
Leaves generally tufted, 5–200+ cm, generally ± alike; petiole generally firm, base generally darker, with 2–many vascular strands; blade 1–4-pinnate, often with scales, hair-like scales, hairs (except clear, needle-like hairs generally 0), or short-stalked glands on axes, sometimes between veins, veins free to netted; 1° and 2° axes generally grooved on upper side
Sporangia: sori round, less often oblong or J-shaped, along or at tips of veins; indusia peltate, round-reniform, oblong to linear, J-shaped, hood-like, or cup-like, rarely 0; spores elliptic, winged, ridged, or spiny, scar linear
Genera in family: ± 60 genera, > 1000 species: worldwide, especially tropical, wooded areas. Woodsia sometimes in Woodsiaceae; Athyrium, Cystopteris sometimes in Athyriaceae.

ATHYRIUM

LADY FERN

Rhizome short-creeping to suberect, stout
Leaf: petiole stout, fleshy, easily crushed, straw-colored except base generally blackened, base scaly, in X -section with 2 crescent-shaped vascular strands; blade generally 2-pinnate or more, ± glabrous, veins free
Sporangia: sori ± round, ± oblong, or J-shaped; indusium oblong or J-shaped, laterally attached, or 0
Species in genus: ± 100 species: generally n temp, especially e Asia
Etymology: (Greek: doorless, from enclosed sori)

Native

A. filix-femina (L.) Mert. var. cyclosorum Rupr.

Leaf: blade elliptic to lanceolate, 1–2-pinnate, segments deeply pinnately lobed to ± toothed, margin not reflexed over sorus
Chromosomes: 2n=80
Ecology: Woods, along streams, seepage areas
Elevation: 0–3200 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province (except Great Central Valley, Peninsular Ranges), Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, w Canada, Idaho, Colorado, n Mexico
Synonyms: var. californicum Butters; var. sitchense Rupr
Highly variable, but named vars. in w North America seem indistinct; other vars. worldwide
Horticultural information: IRR or WET: 4, 5, 6, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.