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Osmunda ×ruggii

Scientific Name: Osmunda ×ruggii

Family: Osmundaceae

Category: Fern

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Osmunda ruggii

Osmunda ruggii is a fascinating hybrid fern belonging to the family Osmundaceae. It is a sterile hybrid, meaning it cannot reproduce sexually, resulting from the cross between Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted Fern) and Osmunda spectabilis (American Royal Fern).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Osmunda ruggii R.M. Tryon
  • Family: Osmundaceae
  • Rank: Hybrid
  • Synonyms: Osmunda x ruggii R. Tryon (Note the "x" indicating a hybrid origin)

Distribution and Habitat

Osmunda ruggii is found in eastern North America. One documented observation places it in the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia. This hybrid arises where the ranges of its parent species, O. claytoniana and O. spectabilis, overlap.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Leaves are described as 2-pinnate (twice divided).
  • Petioles (leaf stalks) are approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the leaf blades.
  • Petioles are not winged.
  • Petioles have light brown hairs, which may change over time.

Genetic Information

Studies have been conducted analyzing the chloroplast genome and DNAs of Osmunda x ruggii using restriction fragment analysis. Mitochondrial DNA, specifically the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) gene, has also been sequenced.

Further Information

Additional information can be found at:

  • Tropicos
  • IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
  • Efloras
  • PlantSystematics.org
  • BiodiversityLibrary.org (referencing the publication "New observations on the royal fern hybrid Osmunda x ruggii" by W H Wagner, F S Wagner, C N Miller, D H Wagner)