Dryopteris australis (Wherry) Small. Common name: Southern Woodfern, Southern Shieldfern. Habitat: Swamps, bottomlands, mesic forests, spring runs. Distribution: MD south to n. GA, s. AL, MS, w. LA and AR.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Dryopteris australis originated as a hybrid of D. celsa × D. ludoviciana. It regularly occurs in the absence of one or both parents and also sometimes outside the current distribution of one of its parents, suggesting that it is able to reproduce via viable spores. It is therefore treated here without the hybrid ×, which would misleadingly indicate sterility and non-independence.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Sf, Yawn et al (2024); = Dryopteris ×australis (Wherry) Small — K4, NS, POWO, pro species; = Dryopteris clintoniana (D.C.Eaton) Dowell var. australis Wherry; = n/a — C, FNA2, RAB, Tat. Basionym: Dryopteris clintoniana (D.C.Eaton) Dowell var. australis Wherry 1937
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Kathy Daniel source CC0 | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Dryopteris australis? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro:
Stems:
Leaves:
Inforescence:
Flowers:
Fruits:
Comments:
Height:
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description:
stems:
leaves:
inflorescence:
flowers:
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
0 unsaved edits on this page.