Athyrium A. Roth. Common name: Lady Fern.
A genus of about 225 species, cosmopolitan in distribution, but concentrated in e. and se. Asia. Wei et al. (2018) recognize ten sections in the genus; the species in our area are in section Athyrium. For our area, Kelloff et al. (2002) and Kelloff & Werth (1998) support recognition of two taxa at either specific or infraspecific levels, based on morphology, allozymes, and spores.
ID notes: Athyrium and Deparia superficially resemble Dryopteris, and the several genera often grow together. Athyrium and Deparia have linear, flap-like sori (vs. rounded, reniform sori). Sterile individuals can be distinguished by the number of vascular bundles in the petiole (easily determined by breaking off a leaf and counting the vascular bundles, which will appear as thread-like, but flattened, strands); Athyrium and Deparia have 2, Dryopteris has 4-7.
References: Kato (1993c) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993b); Kelloff et al. (2002); Kramer & Green (1990); Moran, Hanks, & Sundue (2019); Wang, He, & Kato in FoC (2013); Wei et al. (2018). Show full citations.
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend. Data for arrows not developed for genera and families which may have species only occurring outside the flora area.
© Edwin Bridges | Athyrium asplenioides | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Athyrium asplenioides | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Athyrium? 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.