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alpine ladyfern

Scientific Name: Athyrium americanum

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Category: Fern

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Alpine Lady-fern (Athyrium distentifolium)

The Athyrium distentifolium, commonly known as Alpine Lady-fern, is a fern widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. It's a frequently encountered upland variety, often found above 600 meters.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz
  • Common Name: Alpine Lady-fern
  • Family: Woodsiaceae (based on reference to related photo)
  • Synonyms:
    • Athyrium alpestre (Hoppe) Rylands
    • Athyrium americanum (Butters) Maxon
  • Subspecies/Varieties:
    • Athyrium alpestre subsp. americanum (Butters) Lellinger
    • Athyrium distentifolium var. americanum
    • Athyrium distentifolium var. distentifolium
    • Athyrium distentifolium var. flexile

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found widely in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • Common in upland areas, often above 600 meters.
  • Grows on rocky slopes and along streams at high elevations, frequently near timberline.
  • Circumboreal distribution.
  • Specific locations mentioned: Rocky Mountains, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness (central Oregon), Mt. Adams, Washington, Czech Republic (Hruby Jesenik Mts.), Norge, Trysil Fjeld.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Deciduous fern
  • Lady fern is distinguished by its height of up to 80 cm and narrower
  • Athyrium alpestre (A. distentifolium) is described as a smaller version of the common lady fern.

Genetic Information

  • Athyrium flexile is a stunted variety of Alpine Lady-fern A. distentifolium, a single gene mutation accounting for the difference between the two.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Growth and species composition studied on ski pistes in the Hruby Jesenik Mts., Czech Republic.

Further Information

  • Montana Field Guide
  • Dave's Garden
  • NCBI Taxonomy
  • Wikimedia Commons
  • Discover Life