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Athyrium asplenioides (Michaux) A.A. Eaton. Section: Athyrium. Southern Lady Fern. Phen: May-Sep. Hab: Moist forests, bottomlands, streambanks. Dist: MA, WV, IL, and KS south to n. FL and e. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: High elevation plants (mainly in spruce-fir and northern hardwoods forests) in the Southern Appalachians need additional taxonomic study. They have much larger leaves than typical lowland forms, and the leaves are more divided. The name Athyrium filix-femina var. subtripinnatum Butters may apply.

Synonymy ⓘ: = K3, K4, NE, NY, RAB, Sf, Tat, Va, WV; = Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mert. ssp. asplenioides (Michx.) Hultén – Ar, ETx1, Il, K1, Mo1, Tn, TxFerns, W, WH3; = Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mert. var. asplenioides (Michx.) Farw. – C, F, FNA2, G, GrPl, Pa, Tx; > Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mert. var. subtripinnatum Butters; < Athyrium filix-foemina (L.) Roth – S13

Links to other floras: = Athyrium filix-femina var. asplenioides - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Athyrium asplenioides, Red Spruce-Fraser Fir Forest, Roan High Bluff, Pisgah National Forest, Mitchell County, North Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Athyrium asplenioides, Track Rock Gap, Chattahoochee National Forest, Union County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Athyrium asplenioides, Red Spruce-Fraser Fir Forest, Roan High Bluff, Pisgah National Forest, Mitchell County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 2-3 ft.

plant sale text: Southern lady fern is easy to grow. This native deciduous fern is not often offered for sale. Its erect fronds add a delicate, graceful beauty throughout the growing season when combined with other woodland plants. Like most other ferns, it requires an evenly moist soil. This fern grows into handsome clumps and makes a fine groundcover for the shade garden. Its native range includes much of the southeastern United States. Provides cover for toads and anoles. Supports up to 3 species of lepidoptera.

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native range: eastern United States