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Southern lady fern

How to identify Southern lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides)

Southern lady fern

Southern lady fern presents as an elegant perennial, typically measuring 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall. Its foliage is composed of lacy, broad fronds that exhibit a delicate, feathery texture. The deciduous leaves maintain a vibrant green coloration. Notable for their underground rhizomes, these plants are capable of forming extensive, dense ground covers which can be quite striking in natural settings. The spore covers are a unique feature, opening slowly and reflecting its nomenclature origin.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Southern lady fern

1

Lacy fronds with elliptic pinnae and oblong pinnules create a circular clump.

2

Stem displays yellow-green to red-brown color with distinctive chaffy scales.

3

Underground rhizomes enable dense ground cover formation in natural settings.

4

Reproductive structures (sori & indusia) located on undersides of pinnules.

5

Spore covers of southern lady fern open slowly, reflecting its unique nomenclature origin.

Southern lady fernSouthern lady fernSouthern lady fernSouthern lady fernSouthern lady fern

Detailed Traits of Southern lady fern

Leaf Features

The 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) long and 10-inch (25 cm) across light green lacy fronds of southern lady fern are pinnate or pinnatifid lanceolate, forming a circular clump. Each frond contains 20-30 non-opposite pinnae that are elliptic with pointed tips. These pinnae are further divided into lanceolate to oblong pinnules. The fronds are widest below the center. The reproductive structures (sori & indusia) are located on the undersides of the pinnules.

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Stem Features

The stem of southern lady fern is characterized by its yellow-green to red-brown coloration, exhibiting a distinct array of chaffy scales ranging from light to dark brown. These stems are moderately thick, typically measuring around 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter. Branching patterns are minimal, with a predominantly upright and slightly arching growth form. The texture of the stem is generally smooth but interrupted by the presence of the chaffy scales, providing a unique tactile and visual characteristic crucial for identification.

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Key Facts About Southern lady fern

Attributes of Southern lady fern
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb
Plant Height
30 cm to 91 cm
Spread
60 cm to 90 cm
Leaf Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
Red
Burgundy
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Scientific Classification of Southern lady fern

Class
Ferns
Icon allow
Species
Southern lady fern (Athyrium asplenioides)
Learn More About the Southern lady fern

Distribution Map of Southern lady fern

Southern lady fern is a fern species with a native distribution that extends across parts of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Though initially confined to these major regions, its adaptability has allowed it to spread beyond its original range, with no specific details on its introduced regions provided.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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