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.

POLYSTICHUM

SWORD FERN

Rhizome generally suberect to erect, often stout
Leaf: petiole stout, firm, generally densely scaly, in X -section with many round vascular strands in an arc; blade generally 1–3-pinnate, thin to leathery, scaly, veins generally free, rarely casually joined; 1° leaflet bases often wider on distal side; teeth generally including bristle-like tips that are < 2 mm
Sporangia: sori round; indusium generally peltate, sinus 0
Species in genus: ± 175+ species: ± worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: many rows, from rows of sori on type sp.)

Native

P. californicum (D.C. Eaton) Diels

Leaf 40–100 cm; petiole < 1/2 blade length, base scales 3–4 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate; blade lanceolate, 1- to partly 2-pinnate; 1° leaflets generally 4–7 cm
Sporangia: indusium ciliate
Chromosomes: 2n=82,164
Ecology: Woods, streambanks, to rocky open slopes
Elevation: 0–800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada (1 site), Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains (1 site)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Probably arises as sterile hybrid between P. munitum or P. imbricans and P. dudleyi. Chromosome doubling (2n=164) restores fertility, allows backcrossing to parents
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5 &IRR: 6, 17 &SHD: 14, 15, 16 &WET: 7, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.