Distinguishing Athyrium ferns

There only two in Washington/Oregon/British Columbia.

A. felix-femina is much more common and looks like a classic simple lady fern with spreading feathery fronds.

A. americanum (pka distentifolium) (ours) is sub-alpine to alpine with fronds relatively erect in sunny locations. There is often a twist near the end of the pinna and often the proximal (stemward) pinnules are folded inward. The general appearance is fluffier than A. felix-femina.

Oreopteris quelpartensis has a gross appearance similar to Athyrium lady ferns and is found mostly in British Columbia and farther north and sometimes in near alpine zones in Washington.

Posted on 31 de julho de 2022, 03:00 PM by jhorthos