Athyrium asplenioides — southern lady fern
![Plant form: Athyrium asplenioides. ~ By Robbin Moran. ~ Copyright © 2024 Robbin Moran. ~ rmoran[at]nybg.org ~ Plant Systematics - www.plantsystematics.org/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/athyrium-asplenioides-ha-rmoran.jpg)
![Leaf: Athyrium asplenioides. ~ By Derick B. Poindexter. ~ Copyright © 2024 Derick B. Poindexter. ~ dpoindex[at]live.unc.edu ~ Vascular Flora of Alleghany County, NC - vascularflora.appstate.edu/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/athyrium-asplenioides-le-dpoindexter1.jpg)
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New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeFacts
Southern lady fern reaches the northern limit of its distribution in southern New England, where it can be found in moist to wet forests. It is distinguished from the more common northern lady fern (Athyrium angustum) by having leaf blades broadest just above the base, and spores dark brown when mature.
Habitat
Forests, wetland margins (edges of wetlands)
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Specific habitat
-
- edges of wetlands
- forests
Wetland status
Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- rare (uncertain) (S-rank: S2?)
- Rhode Island
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), concern (uncertain) (code: C*)
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Athyrium angustum:
- with scales on petiole brown to dark brown and leaf blades narrowed toward base (vs. A. asplenioides, with scales on petiole light brown to brown and leaf blades only slightly narrowed at base).
Synonyms
- Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth var. asplenioides (Michx.) Farw.
- Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ssp. asplenioides (Michx.) Hultén
- Nephrodium asplenioides Michx.
Family
Genus
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
2. Athyrium asplenioides (Michx.) Desv. NC
southern lady fern. Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ssp. asplenioides (Michx.) Hultén; A. filix-femina (L.) Roth var. asplenioides (Michx.) Farw.; Nephrodium asplenioides Michx. • CT, MA, RI; also reported from VT by Seymour (1982), but voucher specimens are unknown. Mesic to hydric forests.