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Athyrium filix-femina
(L.) Roth
Lady Fern
Athyriaceae
Athyrium filix-femina is a species of fern in the family Athyriaceae. It has an extremely widespread distribution over the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and is often cultivated as an ornamental.
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Description
Athyrium filix-femina is a short creeping plant. Sterile fronds are green, elliptic lanceolate to oblanceolate, 18 to 30 cm long and 5 to 50 cm wide. Stalks are dark brown at the base, 7 to 60 cm long, and with two rows of teeth. Sterile fronds are bipinnate to bipinnate-pinnatifid. They have short-stalked or stalkless leaflets. Leaflets are oblong or lanceolate, with pointed tips. Fertile fronds are longer than the sterile fronds, 25 to 65 cm long and only 3 to 15 cm wide. Subleaflets are oblong or lanceolate, lobed, with toothed margins. Sori are hooked or horseshoe-shaped (FNAEC 1993).
Four varieties are native to North America. Variety angustum is found in the Northeast; variety asplenioides is found in the Southeast; variety californicum is found in the western United States; and cyclosorum is native to southern Alaska down to California. A detailed key can be found at the eFloras website (FNAEC 1993).
Four varieties are native to North America. Variety angustum is found in the Northeast; variety asplenioides is found in the Southeast; variety californicum is found in the western United States; and cyclosorum is native to southern Alaska down to California. A detailed key can be found at the eFloras website (FNAEC 1993).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Athyrium filix-femina is sometimes grown as an ornamental. It grows well in rich, moist but well-drained soil in part to full shade. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 8 (MBG). Athyrium filix-femina can also be used medicinally. Infusions with this species can be used to treat intestinal fevers and labor pains (Quattrocchi 2012).
Distribution
Athyrium filix-femina is extremely widespread in North America. Four varieties are native to North America. In general, it is found in moist woods, swamps, thickets, meadows, and alongside streams, at altitudes of up to 3500 m. It is native to North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia (FNAEC 1993).
Status
References
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Athyrium filix-femina. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b630
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Athyrium filix-femina. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b630
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Description
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