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Dryopteris

(Genus)

Overview

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Dryopteris (),[1] commonly called wood ferns, male ferns, and buckler ferns, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns with distribution in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in eastern Asia. Many of the species have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of fronds. The sori are round, with a peltate indusium. The stipes have prominent scales.

Hybridization is a well-known phenomenon within this group, with many species formed by hybridization.

Dryopteris species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Batrachedra sophroniella (which feeds exclusively on D. cyatheoides) and Sthenopis auratus.

Selected species

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Cultivation and uses

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Many Dryopteris species are highly desired as garden ornamental plants, especially D. erythrosa (autumn fern, often sold in garden outlets) and D. filix-mas, a very popular garden fern in the British Isles and Europe, with numerous cultivars.

Dryopteris filix-mas was throughout much of recent human history widely used as a vermifuge, and was the only fern listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.

See also

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about 250 species of ferns with distribution in the temperate Northern Hemispher e, with the highest species diversity in eastern Asia. Many of the species have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of fronds. The sori are round, with a peltate indusium. The stipes have prominent scales.

Hybridization is a well-known phenomenon within this group, with many species formed by hybridization.

Dryopteris species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Batrachedra sophroniella (which feeds exclusively on D. cyatheoides) and Sthenopis auratus.

Selected species

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Cultivation and uses

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Many Dryopteris species are highly desired as garden ornamental plants, especially D. erythrosa (autumn fern, often sold in garden outlets) and D. filix-mas, a very popular garden fern in the British Isles and Europe, with numerous cultivars.

Dryopteris filix-mas was throughout much of recent human history widely used as a vermifuge, and was the only fern listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606?607

External links

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Taxonomy

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The Genus Dryopteris is further organized into finer groupings including:

References

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  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606?607

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 17:23:50