Dryopteris
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 Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
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Dryopteris (commonly called Wood Ferns, Male Ferns and Buckler Ferns) is a genus of about 250 species of ferns with distribution in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in eastern Asia. Many of the species have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of fronds. The sori are round, with a peltate indusium. The stipes have prominent scales.
Hybridization is a well-known phenomenon within this group, with many species are formed by hybridization.
Dryopteris species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Batrachedra sophroniella (which feeds exclusively on D. cyatheoides) and Sthenopis auratus.
- Selected species
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[edit] Cultivation and uses
Many Dryopteris species are highly desired as garden ornamental plants, especially D. erythrosa (autumn fern, often sold in garden outlets) and D. filix-mas, a very popular garden fern in the British Isles and Europe, 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. Pharmacopoeia.
[edit] References and external links
- Flora Europaea: Drypopteris
- Flora of North America: Drypopteris
- Flora of China: Drypopteris species list
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