Dryopteris filix-mas, the male fern,[1] is a common fern of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, native to much of Europe, Asia, and North America. It favours damp shaded areas in the understory of woodlands, but also shady places on hedge-banks, and rocks, and screes. Near the northern limit of its distribution it prefers sunny, well-drained sites. It is much less abundant in North America than in Europe.
| Dryopteris filix-mas | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Polypodiineae |
| Family: | Dryopteridaceae |
| Genus: | Dryopteris |
| Species: | D. filix-mas
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| Binomial name | |
| Dryopteris filix-mas | |
Description
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The semi-evergreen leaves have an upright habit and reach a maximum length of 150 cm (59 in), with a single crown on each rootstock. The bipinnate leaves consist of 20–35 pinnae on each side of the rachis. The leaves taper at both ends, with the basal pinnae about half the length of the middle pinnae. The pinules are rather blunt and equally lobed all around. The stalks are covered with orange-brown scales. On the abaxial surface of the mature blade 5 to 6 sori develop in two rows. When the spores ripen in August to November, the indusium starts to shrivel, leading to the release of the spores.
This species hybridises easily with Dryopteris affinis (scaly male fern) and Dryopteris oreades (mountain male fern).
Names
editThe plant is sometimes referred to in ancient literature as worm fern, reflecting its former use against tapeworm.[citation needed]
Its specific epithet filix-mas means "male fern" (filix "fern", mas "male"), as the plant was thought to be the male version of the common lady fern Athyrium filix-femina.[2] being robust in appearance and vigorous in growth.[3]
The Finnish name kivikkoalvejuuri refers to the cestoda medicine use it has had (see Culture section), as alve is an old word for cestoda.[4]
Cultivation & uses
editNumerous cultivars have been selected for garden use. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[5]
Culture
editD. filix-mas is culturally named the title plant of Nurmijärvi, the municipality in Uusimaa, Finland. The reason is that the plant is related to the first Finnish pharmaceutical factory located in Nurmijärvi in 1899–1964. The pharmaceutical factory founded by the pharmacist Albin Koponen made Diphyllobothrium latum and cestoda medicines called Filisin and Filicon, the raw material of which was the rhizome of D. filix-mas. The rhizomes were still collected in the locality in the 1960s.[11] The medicine was also used to treat liver fluke in sheep in Finland.[4]
Toxicity
editThe rhizomes of D. filix-mas are toxic. Doses too big can cause serious poisoning, blindness and even death.[4]
References
edit- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition, 2009: "C16: so called because it was formerly believed to be the male of the lady fern"
- ^ Wayside and Woodland Blossoms (1895) by Edward Step: "the Male-fern – so-called by our fathers owing to its robust habit as compared with the tender grace of one they called Lady-fern."
- ^ a b c Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 494. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.
- ^ "AGM Plants – Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 33. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Dryopteris filix-mas". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Dryopteris filix-mas 'Crispa Cristata'". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Dryopteris filix-mas 'Cristata'". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Dryopteris filix-mas 'Grandiceps Wills'". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Dryopteris filix-mas 'Linearis Polydactyla'". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Vaakuna ja tunnukset - Nurmijärvi.fi (in Finnish)
External links
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