SafePlants

Silver False Spleenwort (Deparia acrostichoides) and Japanese False Spleenwort (Deparia petersenii)

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that Deparia petersenii (Japanese False Spleenwort) is considered an invasive species. While this doesn't directly imply toxicity, its vigorous growth might pose a risk of accidental ingestion if pets are allowed to roam in areas where it grows.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Deparia acrostichoides (Sw.) M. Kato and Deparia petersenii (Kunze) M. Kato
• Common Names: Silver False Spleenwort, Silvery Glade Fern, Silvery Spleenwort (for Deparia acrostichoides), and Japanese False Spleenwort (for Deparia petersenii). The plants are also generally referred to as false spleenworts.
• Synonyms: For Deparia acrostichoides, a synonym is Athyrium thelypterioides. Asplenium petersenii is mentioned as associated with Deparia petersenii.
• Family: Athyriaceae or Dryopteriaceae (conflicting information exists within the text; further research needed for definitive classification)

Distribution and Habitat

• Deparia acrostichoides (Silver False Spleenwort) is found in eastern North America.
• Deparia petersenii (Japanese False Spleenwort) is native to Asia. The text also mentions that it has been found in the Everglades, Savannah, GA, and is considered an exotic and invasive species in some regions.
• Deparia petersenii can be found in ravines and on walls.

Ecological Role

• Deparia petersenii (Japanese False Spleenwort) is identified as an invasive species. This means it can spread aggressively in certain environments, potentially outcompeting native flora.

Morphological Characteristics

• Silver False Spleenwort is described as a tall, soft green fern forming a leafy clump.
• It grows from a black, creeping rhizome.
• The underside of the pinnae (leaflets) are covered with silvery sori (clusters of spore-producing capsules) and silver hairs.
• Japanese false spleenwort is described as having a blade that is ovate-lanceolate, abruptly narrowed to an acuminate, pinnatifid apex.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Japanese false spleenwort is noted as a hyperaccumulator of certain heavy metals (PB, Cd, Cu, Zn). This means it can absorb and concentrate these metals from the soil.

Quirky Facts

• The common name "spleenwort" has a historical association with beliefs about the plant's medicinal properties related to the spleen, though the text does not explicitly confirm this historical connection for Deparia species.

Further Information

• USDA PLANTS Database
• Invasive Plant Atlas
• Discover Life (for biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution information)
• Go Botany