Athyrium distentifolium
Athyrium distentifolium commonly known as alpine lady-fern is a fern found in widely in the Northern Hemisphere.
| Alpine lady-fern | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Aspleniineae |
| Family: | Athyriaceae |
| Genus: | Athyrium |
| Species: | A. distentifolium |
| Binomial name | |
| Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz | |
It is a common upland variety above 600 metres in the Highlands of Scotland, with more than 10% of the UK population being found in the Cairngorm mountains, especially on scree slopes in Glen Feshie, and on Ben Avon, Ben MacDui and Beinn a' Bhùird. Regarded as nationally scarce, it is a snow-tolerant species. The stunted form var. flexile, which is found at 750 metres and above, is found at only 4 sites and is endemic to Scotland.[1][2][3]
The subspecies americanum is found in the mountains of western United States, Alaska, Canada and coastal Greenland,[4] and is sometimes classified as a separate species Athyrium americanum.
Athyrium distentifolium ssp. americanum
Athyrium distentifolium ssp. americanum lower surface of leaf
References
- Ratcliffe, Derek (1977) Highland Flora. Inverness. HIDB. pp. 67 and 82.
- Shaw, Philip and Thompson, Des (eds.) (2006) The Nature of the Cairngorms: Diversity in a changing environment. Edinburgh. The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-497326-1. pp. 75 and 218-35.
- "Species Action Plan: Newman's Lady Fern (Athyrium flexile)" Archived October 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine BAP. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- "Plants Profile: Athyrium americanum" USDA Retrieved 24 June 2008.
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