Dryopteris fragrans

Dryopteris fragrans, commonly known as the fragrant woodfern, a circumboreal fern,[1] is the smallest of the Dryopteris species. It can resemble Woodsia ilvensis in the wild, with which it shares the same habitat of rocky areas, shady cliffs, screes, and limestone talus.[2] It typically will not reach more than 25 cm (9.8 in) in height, and accumulates dead fronds around its base.[3]

Dryopteris fragrans
Fragrant fern (Dryopteris fragrans)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Dryopteris
Species:
D. fragrans
Binomial name
Dryopteris fragrans

The name refers to an appealing fruity fragrance (which some liken to primrose) that is exuded by aromatic glands found on the surface of fresh fronds. Others say that it has a spicy odor when dry. The fronds were traditionally made into a tea, as well as used as bedding by Native Americans.[4] Like many other ferns, and members of Dryopteris in particular, however, its plant material can potentially contain an antinutrient, thiaminase,[5] as well as potentially cytotoxic compounds.[6]

References
  1. "Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott". www.gbif.org. Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
  2. "Dryopteris fragrans". efloras.org.
  3. "Maine Natural Areas Program Rare Plant Fact Sheet for Dryopteris fragrans". www.maine.gov. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  4. Moerman, Daniel E. (1998). Native American ethnobotany. Portland, Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. "Dryopteris fragrans". pfaf.org.
  6. Zhao, Dan-Dan; Zhao, Qin-Shi; Liu, Li; Chen, Zhong-Qin; Zeng, Wei-Min; Lei, Hong; Zhang, Yan-Long (2014). "Compounds from Dryopteris Fragrans (L.) Schott with Cytotoxic Activity". Molecules. 19 (3): 3345–3355. doi:10.3390/molecules19033345. PMC 6271107. PMID 24647035.


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