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Dennstaedtia punctilobula
(Michx.) T.Moore
Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtiaceae
Dennstaedtia punctilobula is a species of fern in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. It is native to eastern North America, and is cultivated as an ornamental.
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Description
Dennstaedtia punctilobula has creeping, 2 to 3 mm wide stems. Leaves are clustered, bipinnate and triangular to lanceolate. The leafstalks are pale yellow to brown. Leaf blades are a dull yellow to pale green; the base is truncate and the ends of the leaves are pointed. Both the upper and lower sides of the leaves have soft silvery hairs on them. Leaflets are narrowly lanceolate, and subleaflets are opposite near the bottom, and are finely toothed or lobed, making the leaves bipinnate-pinnatifid. Sori and indusia are round (FNAEC 1993). The fronds smell of hay when crushed, hence one of its common names. In the fall, leaves die back, turning pale yellow and brown (Cullina 2008).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Dennstaedtia punctilobula is relatively easy to grow, preferring acid soils and tolerating both dry and wet areas. It is quite a vigorous species, and while spreading may smother other plants. It grows in USDA zones 3 to 8 (Cullina 2008).
Distribution
Dennstaedtia punctilobula is common in woods, meadows, slopes, and alongside banks and roadsides, at altitudes of up to 1200 m (FNAEC 1993). It is native from Newfoundland to Georgia (FNAEC 1993; Kartesz 2015).
Status
References
Cullina, W. 2008. Native ferns, moss & grasses. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
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.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
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.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
Description
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