Nature: Historical bottlenecks decrease genetic diversity in natural populations of Dryopteris cristata Dryopteris cristata (L.) A. Gray is a long-lived, lowland, homosporous fern of wet bogs and swampy woodland with a temperate to subarctic, circumpolar distribution (Dostal et al., 1984); the Alps are ... Many Dryopteris species are widely used as garden ornamental plants, especially D.

Context Explanation

affinis, D. erythrosora, and D. filix-mas, with numerous cultivars. Dryopteris filix-mas was throughout much of recent human history widely used as a vermifuge, and was the only fern listed in the U.S.

Insight Material

Pharmacopoeia. Dryopteris intermedia hybridizes with eight species. All hybrids are easily detected by the distinctive glandular hairs on the indusia and, usually, on the costae and costules." Dryopteris are elegant, deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen ferns noted for their shuttlecock of arching fronds originating from erect or branching rhizomes. Dryopteris is the most numerous genus of ferns, with over 200 species and many hybrids. They are attractive ornamental ferns, with upright arching fronds that look great in mixed borders with other perennials.

Final Conclusion

Many species are evergreen. ID notes: Dryopteris and Athyrium are often confused when not fertile; they can be easily distinguished by breaking off a leaf and counting vascular bundles (which will appear as thread-like strands). Dryopteris spinulosa may refer to one or more woodferns in some references encountered in the literature. When species-relevant information is encountered for D. spinulosa, this review assumes D. spinulosa is a synonym for D.

carthusiana.