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Dryopteris goldiana

(Giant Wood Fern)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Giant Wood Fern, Goldie's Woodfern

Description

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Family Dryopteridaceae

Plants perennial , terrestrial or on rock, occasionally hemiepiphytic or epiphytic. Stems creeping to erect , rarely arborescent , sometimes climbing , branched or unbranched, dictyostelic, bearing scales . Leaves circinate in bud, monomorphic or dimorphic . Petiole usually not articulate to stem, scales usually persistent at base , in cross section with 2--many roundish bundles, or bundles 2 and lunate . Blade simple to commonly 1--5-pinnate or more divided , leaf buds absent or present. Veins pinnate or parallel in ultimate segments, simple or forked , free or anastomosing, areoles sometimes with included free veinlets. Indument on blade commonly of glands , hairs , and/or scales, especially on rachis and costae abaxially. Sori borne abaxially on veins or at vein tips (but usually not marginal ), or sporangia acrostichoid and covering abaxial surface, if in discrete sori then variously shaped (round , oblong , or elongate ) ; receptacle not or only slightly elevated , with or without indusium, indusium variously linear , falcate , or reniform , sometimes hoodlike, cuplike, or round. Sporangia with stalk of 2--3 rows of cells ; annulus vertical , interrupted by stalk. Spores all of 1 kind, usually not green (except Matteuccia, Onoclea ), oblong or reniform in outline, monolete, variously ornamented (often broadly winged ), 64 per sporangium (32 in apogamous spp. ) . Gametophytes green, aboveground, cordate, glabrous or often bearing glands or hairs; archegonia and antheridia borne on lower surface, antheridia 3-celled.

Genera ca. 60, species perhaps exceeding 3000 (18 genera, 79 species in the flora ) : worldwide.

The family Dryopteridaceae has been variously circumscribed; it is here delimited in a manner similar to that of R. M. Tryon and A. F. Tryon (1982) but with the inclusion of Nephrolepis . In many works, the family has gone under the illegitimate name Aspidiaceae. Some authorities define Dryopteridaceae more narrowly, to exclude Athyrium, Deparia, Diplazium, Cystopteris, and Gymnocarpium (Athyriaceae or Woodsiaceae), Woodsia (Woodsiaceae), Lomariopsis (Lomariopsidaceae), Nephrolepis (Nephrolepidaceae or Davalliaceae), Onoclea and Matteuccia (Onocleaceae), and Ctenitis and Tectaria (Tectariaceae) . Characteristics holding Dryopteridaceae (as circumscribed here) together include the bilateral , monolete spores, often broadly winged perispore, absence of needlelike hairs, scaly stem and petiole bases, abaxial (nonmarginal) sori, base chromosome number of 40 or 41 (also 38 and 39 in Woodsia, 37 in Onoclea, 42 in Cystopteris ), and usually indusiate sori. Loss of indusium, dimorphism , areolate venation , and reduced blade dissection have occurred repeatedly along many evolutionary lines in Dryopteridaceae, and in general these characteristics are often not very useful in delimiting genera or assessing intergeneric relationships .

In some genera, especially Phanerophlebia and Polystichum, the blade bears very narrow scales (sometimes called microscales) that resemble uniseriate hairs. These scales may be only one or two cells wide. Every intergradation exists between these filiform microscales and more typical, wider scales, and the two types are the same color, generally tan to brownish. Microscales are probably not homologous with true hairs, which may be either unicellular or multicellular , uncolored or sometimes reddish (as in Tectaria and Ctenitis ), glandular (as in Woodsia ) or not. Hairs in Dryopteridaceae, if present at all, are generally readily distinguishable from the needlelike, transparent ones found in Thelypteridaceae.[1]

Genus Dryopteris

Plants terrestrial , rarely on rock. Stems short-creeping to erect , stolons absent. Leaves monomorphic , green through winter or dying back in winter. Petiole ca. 1/4--2/3 blade length , bases swollen or not; vascular bundles more than 3, arranged in an arc, ± round in cross section . Blade deltate-ovate to lanceolate, 1--3-pinnate-pinnatifid, gradually reduced distally to pinnatifid apex, herbaceous to somewhat leathery. Pinnae not articulate to rachis, segment margins entire, crenate , or serrate, spinulose or not; proximal pinnae reduced (several pairs), same size as or enlarged relative to more distal pinnae, sessile to petiolulate , equilateral or often inequilateral with pinnules on basiscopic side longer than those on acroscopic side; costae adaxially grooved , grooves continuous from rachis to costae to costules ; indument of linear to ovate scales abaxially, also sometimes with glands , blades ± glabrous adaxially. Veins free , forked . Sori in 1 row between margin and midrib , round; indusia round-reniform, attached at narrow sinus , persistent or caducous . Spores brownish, coarsely rugose or with folded wings . x = 41.

Species ca. 250: mostly in temperate Asia.

The relationships of the North American species are reasonably well understood, but species identifications are complicated by the frequent presence of hybrids in field populations. Sterile hybrids can be distinguished from fertile species by their misshapen spores and intermediate morphology. They are not included in the key , but they may be identified as to parentage by combinations of characters in the key (e.g. , marginal sori for Dryopteris marginalis, narrow blades for D . cristata) . Relationships are shown in the accompanying reticulogram.[2]

Physical Description

Species Dryopteris goldiana

Leaves monomorphic , dying back in winter, 35--120 × 15--40 cm. Petiole 1/3 length of leaf, scaly at base ; scales scattered , dark, glossy brown to nearly black, with pale border . Blade green, often white-mottled at tip , ovate , tapering abruptly at apex, pinnate-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate at base, herbaceous, not glandular . Pinnae parallel to plane of blade, ovate-lanceolate, broadest above base; basal pinnae broadly oblong-lanceolate, slightly reduced, basal pinnule equal to adjacent pinnules , basal basiscopic pinnule and basal acroscopic pinnule equal; pinnule margins crenulate or serrate. Sori nearer midvein than margin . Indusia and axes lacking glands . 2 n = 82. [source]

Dryopteris goldiana is diploid and is one of the parents of D. celsa and of D. clintoniana. Dryopteris goldiana hybridizes with five species. Hybrids can be identified by the glossy dark scales and large blade size. A remarkable additional hybrid (× Dryostichum singulare W. H. Wagner), involving this species and Polystichum lonchitis, is known from Gray and Simcoe counties, Ontario. It is intermediate between the parents and is sterile (W. H. Wagner Jr., F. S. Wagner et al. 1992). [source]

Habit: Evergreen to semi-evergreen . Creeping rhozomatous habit. Upright arching form with elevated crown.

Flowers: Bloom Period: n/a • Flower Color: inconspicuous, none

Foliage: Summer foliage: Long 14", graceful, arching wide dark green fronds and showy fiddleheads .

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 36-48" tall. Considered a giant among wood ferns.

Habitat

Dense, moist woods , especially ravines , limey seeps , or at the edge of swamps ; 50--1500 m. [source]

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 749 meters (0 to 2,457 feet).[3]

Biology

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Growth

Culture: Space 36-48" apart.

Soil: Prefers organic , moist, well-drained soil. • Minimum pH: 5.1 • Maximum pH: 6.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Part shade to shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Dryopteris

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 100 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

D. acutidens (Pointed Woodfern) · D. affinis (Golden Male Fern) · D. affinis cambrensis (Male Fern) · D. affinis pseudodisjuncta (Golden-Scale Male Fern) · D. affinis var. azorica (Golden-Scale Male Fern) · D. affinis 'Crispa Congesta' (Male Fern) · D. affinis 'Crispa Gracilis' (Male Fern) · D. affinis 'Cristata' (Golden Male Fern) · D. affinis 'Cristata The King' (Crested Male Fern) · D. affinis 'Stablerii' (Crisped Golden-Scaled Male Fern) · D. algonquinensis (Algonquin Woodfern) · D. arguta (Coastal Wood Fern) · D. atrata (Shaggy Shield Fern) · D. australis (Dixie Wood Fern) · D. benedictii (Benedict's Woodfern) · D. bissetiana (Beaded Wood Fern) · D. boottii (Boott's Woodfern) · D. burgessii (Burgess' Woodfern) · D. campyloptera (Mountain Woodfern) · D. carthusiana (Spinulose Shield Fern) · D. celsa (Log Fern) · D. championii (Champion's Wood Fern) · D. cinnamomea (Cinnamon Woodfern) · D. clintoniana (Broad Swamp Fern) · D. crassirhizoma (Thick-Stemmed Wood Fern) · D. crinalis (Serpent Woodfern) · D. cristata (Crested Shield Fern) · D. cristata × intermedia (Crested Buckler Fern) · D. cristata × marginalis (Crested Buckler Fern) · D. cristata × spinulosa (Crested Buckler Fern) · D. cycadina (Shaggy Shield Fern) · D. dilatata campyloptera (Mountain Wood Fern) · D. dilatata var. americana (Mountain Wood Fern) · D. dilatata 'Cristata' (Crested Broad Buckler Fern) · D. dilatata 'Jimmy Dyce' (Broad Buckler Fern) · D. dilatata 'Lepidota Cristata' (Broad Buckler Fern) · D. dilatata 'Recurvata' (Broad Buckler Fern) · D. dowellii (Dowell's Woodfern) · D. erythrosora (Autumn Fern) · D. erythrosora 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) · D. expansa (Alpine Buckler Fern) · D. felix-mas 'Robusta' (Male Fern) · D. felix-mas 'Undulata Robusta' (Robust Male Fern) · D. filix-mas (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Barnesii' (Barnesii Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Crispa Cristata' (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Cristata' (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Digitata' (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Gracilis' (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Linearis' (Slender Crested Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Linearis Polydactyla' (Slender Crested Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Parsley' (Male Fern) · D. filix-mas 'Undulata Robusta' (Robust Male Fern) · D. fragrans (Fragrant Cliff Wood-Fern) · D. fragrans var. fragrans (Fragrant Woodfern) · D. fragrans var. remotiuscula (Fragrant Fern) · D. fuscoatra (Crowned Woodfern) · D. glabra (Kilaw) · D. goldiana (Giant Wood Fern) · D. goldieana celsa (Goldie´s Wood Fern) · D. hawaiiensis (Hawai'i Woodfern) · D. hondoensis (Hondo Fern) · D. intermedia (Evergreen Wood Fern) · D. lacera (Lacerate Wood-Fern) · D. leedsii (Leeds' Woodfern) · D. ludoviciana (Florida Shield Fern) · D. marginalis (Evergreen Wood Fern) · D. neowherryi (Woodfern) · D. pacifica (Asian Pacific Beaded Wood Fern) · D. parvula (Little Woodfern) · D. pittsfordensis (Pittsford's Woodfern) · D. podosora (Kauaikinana Wood Fern) · D. pseudo-filix-mas (Mexican Male Fern) · D. pseudo filix-mas (Mexican Male Fern) · D. remota (Remote Wood Fern) · D. rossii (Ross' Wood Fern) · D. sandwicensis (Hawaii Woodfern) · D. scottii (Scotts Wood Fern) · D. separabilis (Woodfern) · D. sieboldii (Siebolds Wood Fern) · D. slossoniae (Slosson's Woodfern) · D. subbipinnata (Ainahou Valley Woodfern) · D. tenebrosa (Na Pali-Kona Woodfern) · D. tokyoensis (Tokyo Wood Phone) · D. triploidea (Triploid Woodfern) · D. uliginosa (Woodfern) · D. unidentata (One-Tooth Woodfern) · D. uniformis (Uniform Wood Fern) · D. wallichiana (Alpine Woodfern) · D. × algonquinensis (Algonquin Woodfern) · D. × benedictii (Benedict's Woodfern) · D. x boottii (Boott's Woodfern) · D. × burgessii (Burgess' Woodfern) · D. x complexa 'Robust' (Robust Male Fern) · D. × dowellii (Dowell's Woodfern) · D. x triploidea (Triploid Woodfern) · D. algonquinensis (Algonquin Woodfern) · D. benedictii (Benedict's Woodfern) · D. burgessii (Burgess' Woodfern) · D. dowellii (Dowell's Woodfern)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 21, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Alan R. Smith "Dryopteridaceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. James D. Montgomery, Warren H. Wagner Jr. "Dryopteris". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 289.580 meters (950.066 feet), Standard Deviation = 191.830 based on 26 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2012-07-14