Athyrium: My Fern Fascination
Ferns have always captivated me. Their delicate fronds, their intricate patterns, and their ability to thrive in the cool, damp shade speak to a resilience and beauty I find endlessly fascinating. Among the many fern genera, Athyrium holds a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s their graceful, almost ethereal appearance, or perhaps it’s the sheer diversity within the genus that draws me in. Whatever the reason, I find myself continually seeking out new species to admire and learn about.
Athyrium, commonly known as the lady fern, encompasses a vast array of terrestrial ferns, with estimates suggesting nearly 270 species scattered across the globe. They flourish in temperate and tropical regions, often gracing woodland floors and shaded ravines with their presence. The name Athyrium itself is derived from the Greek a- (without) and the Latinized Greek thyreos (shield), referring to the inconspicuous indusium, a thin membrane that covers the spore clusters, or sori, on the underside of the fronds. Â
Diversity in Delicacy
One of the things I find most remarkable about Athyrium is the incredible variation within the genus. While they share certain characteristics, like their delicate, often finely divided fronds and their preference for shade, each species possesses a unique charm.
- Athyrium aberrans Liang Zhang & Li Bing Zhang
- Athyrium acrocarpum (Rosenst.) Copel.
- Athyrium acutipinnulum Kodama ex Nakai
- Athyrium adpressum Ching & W.M.Chu
- Athyrium × akiense Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × amagi-pedis Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium americanum (Butters) Maxon
- Athyrium ammifolium (Mett.) C.Chr.
- Athyrium amoenum C.Chr.
- Athyrium × anceps Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium angustum (Willd.) C.Presl
- Athyrium anisopterum Christ
- Athyrium annae KornaÅ›
- Athyrium appendiculiferum Alderw.
- Athyrium approximatum (W.M.Chu) Christenh.
- Athyrium araiostegioides Ching
- Athyrium archboldii Copel.
- Athyrium arcuatum Liebm.
- Athyrium arisanense (Hayata) Tagawa
- Athyrium asplenioides (Michx.) Desv.
- Athyrium atkinsonii Bedd.
- Athyrium atratum Bedd.
- Athyrium atroviride (Alderw.) Seriz.
- Athyrium attenuatum (C.B.Clarke) Tagawa
- Athyrium austro-orientale Ching
- Athyrium × austrojaponense Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × awatae Seriz.
- Athyrium badium (Ching) Christenh.
- Athyrium banajaoense (C.Chr.) Christenh.
- Athyrium baoxingense Ching
- Athyrium × bicolor Seriz.
- Athyrium bipinnatum K.Hori
- Athyrium biserrulatum Christ
- Athyrium bomicola Ching
- Athyrium × boreo-occidentali-indobharaticola-birianum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium bourgaei E.Fourn.
- Athyrium brevistipes Ching
- Athyrium × calophyllum Sa.Kurata ex Seriz.
- Athyrium caudatum Ching
- Athyrium caudiforme Ching
- Athyrium chingianum Z.R.Wang & X.C.Zhang ex X.C.Zhang
- Athyrium christensenianum (Koidz.) Seriz.
- Athyrium christensenii Tardieu
- Athyrium chungtienense Ching
- Athyrium clarkei Bedd.
- Athyrium clemensiae Copel.
- Athyrium clivicola Tagawa
- Athyrium contingens Ching & S.K.Wu
- Athyrium × cornopteroides Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium costulalisorum Ching
- Athyrium crassicaule J.P.Roux
- Athyrium crassipes Ching
- Athyrium crenulatoserrulatum Makino
- Athyrium criticum Ching
- Athyrium cryptogrammoides Hayata
- Athyrium cumingianum (C.Presl) Milde
- Athyrium cuspidatum (Bedd.) M.Kato
- Athyrium cyclosorum (Rupr.) Maxon
- Athyrium davidii (Franch.) Christ
- Athyrium daxianglingense Ching & H.S.Kung
- Athyrium decorum Ching
- Athyrium decurrenti-alatum (Hook.) Copel.
- Athyrium × decurrentiserratum K.Hori
- Athyrium delavayi Christ
- Athyrium deltoidofrons Makino
- Athyrium dentilobum Ching & S.K.Wu
- Athyrium devolii Ching
- Athyrium dissitifolium (Baker) C.Chr.
- Athyrium distans (D.Don) T.Moore
- Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz
- Athyrium × dixitii Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium dombeyi Desv.
- Athyrium × drepanopteroides Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium drepanopteron (Kunze) Milde
- Athyrium dubium Ching
- Athyrium dulongicola W.M.Chu
- Athyrium eburneum (J.Sm. ex Mett.) J.Sm.
- Athyrium elmeri Copel.
- Athyrium elongatum Ching
- Athyrium emeicola Ching
- Athyrium epirachis (Christ) Ching
- Athyrium eremicola Oka & Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium erythropodum Hayata
- Athyrium falcatum Bedd.
- Athyrium fallaciosum Milde
- Athyrium fangii Ching
- Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth
- Athyrium filix-incantatrix Christenh.
- Athyrium fimbriatum T.Moore
- Athyrium flabellulatum (C.B.Clarke) Tardieu
- Athyrium × flavosorum Seriz.
- Athyrium foliolosum T.Moore ex R.Sim
- Athyrium × fuscopaleaceum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × glabrescens Seriz.
- Athyrium grantii Copel.
- Athyrium guangnanense Ching
- Athyrium × gurungae Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium gymnogrammoides (Klotzsch ex Mett.) Bedd.
- Athyrium hahajimense Nakai
- Athyrium hainanense Ching
- Athyrium haleakalae K.R.Wood & W.L.Wagner
- Athyrium himalaicum Ching ex Mehra & Bir
- Athyrium hirtirachis Ching & Y.P.Hsu
- Athyrium × hisatsuanum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium hohenackerianum (Kunze) T.Moore
- Athyrium × ikutae Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × inabaense Seriz.
- Athyrium infrapuberulum Ching
- Athyrium × inouei Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium interjectum Ching
- Athyrium intermixtum Ching & P.S.Chui
- Athyrium iseanum Rosenst.
- Athyrium jinshajiangense Ching & Shing
- Athyrium kandelii Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × kathmanduense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × kawabatae Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × kawabataeoides Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium kenzo-satakei Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium khasimontanum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × kidoanum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium kirishimaense Tagawa
- Athyrium kuratae Seriz.
- Athyrium kutaiense C.Chr.
- Athyrium × langtangense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × lantangense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium latilobum Copel.
- Athyrium latinervatum M.Kessler & A.R.Sm.
- Athyrium leiopodum (Hayata) Tagawa
- Athyrium lewalleanum Pic.Serm.
- Athyrium lineare Ching
- Athyrium × lobulosoimpolitum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium longius Ching
- Athyrium ludingense Z.R.Wang & Li Bing Zhang
- Athyrium mackinnoniorum (C.Hope) C.Chr.
- Athyrium majus (Makino) Makino
- Athyrium × manickamii Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × mantoniae Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium maoshanense Ching & P.S.Chiu
- Athyrium × masachikanum (Sa.Kurata) Seriz.
- Athyrium masamunei Seriz.
- Athyrium × masayukianum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium medium (Carmich.) T.Moore
- Athyrium × megayakusimense Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × meghalaicum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium mehrae Bir
- Athyrium melanolepis (Franch. & Sav.) Christ
- Athyrium mengtzeense Hieron.
- Athyrium × mentiens Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium microphyllum (Sm.) Alston
- Athyrium micropterum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium × minakuchii Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium minimum Ching
- Athyrium minutum Copel.
- Athyrium mohillense (Fée) Tardieu
- Athyrium monomachii (Kom.) Kom.
- Athyrium morobense Copel.
- Athyrium × multifidum Rosenst.
- Athyrium multipinnum Y.T.Hsieh & Z.B.Wang
- Athyrium myer-dreesii Copel.
- Athyrium nakanoi Makino
- Athyrium nanyueense Ching
- Athyrium narthex Christenh.
- Athyrium neglectum Seriz.
- Athyrium × neoelegans Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × nepalense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium nephrodioides (Baker) Christ
- Athyrium newtonii (Baker) Diels
- Athyrium nigripes (Blume) T.Moore
- Athyrium nikkoense Makino
- Athyrium niponicum (Mett.) Hance
- Athyrium nitidulum (Kunze) Milde
- Athyrium oblitescens Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium obtusilimbum Ching
- Athyrium omeiense Ching
- Athyrium oosorum (Baker) Christ
- Athyrium opacum (D.Don) Copel.
- Athyrium oppositipennum Hayata
- Athyrium otophorum (Miq.) Koidz.
- Athyrium pachyphyllum Ching
- Athyrium palmense (Christ) Lellinger
- Athyrium × paludicola Sa.Kurata ex Seriz.
- Athyrium palustre Seriz.
- Athyrium parasnathense (C.B.Clarke) Ching ex Mehra & Bir
- Athyrium pectinatum (Wall. ex Mett.) C.Presl ex T.Moore
- Athyrium × petiolulatum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × pichisermollianum Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium pinetorum Tagawa
- Athyrium pitcairnense Copel.
- Athyrium × pokharense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium praetermissum Sledge
- Athyrium × pseudobipinnatum K.Hori
- Athyrium pseudofluviale (Ching & W.M.Chu) Christenh.
- Athyrium × pseudoiseanum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × pseudopinetorum Seriz.
- Athyrium × pseudospinescens Seriz.
- Athyrium × pseudowardii Seriz.
- Athyrium pubicostatum Ching & Z.Y.Liu
- Athyrium pulcherrimum Copel.
- Athyrium puncticaule (Blume) T.Moore
- Athyrium × purpurascens (Tagawa) Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × purpureipes Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × pygmaei-silvae Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × quaesitum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium reflexipinnum Hayata
- Athyrium × reichsteinii Schneller & Rasbach
- Athyrium repens (Ching) Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium rhachidisorum (Hand.-Mazz.) Ching
- Athyrium rondoense Verdc.
- Athyrium roseum Christ
- Athyrium rubripes (Kom.) Kom.
- Athyrium ruilicola W.M.Chu
- Athyrium rupestre Kodama
- Athyrium rupicola (Edgew. ex C.Hope) C.Chr.
- Athyrium × saitoanum (Sugim.) Seriz.
- Athyrium × sanjappae Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium sarasinorum Christ
- Athyrium satowii H.Itô
- Athyrium × satsumense Seriz.
- Athyrium scandicinum (Willd.) C.Presl
- Athyrium schimperi Moug. ex Fée
- Athyrium schizochlamys (Ching) K.Iwats.
- Athyrium × sefuricola Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium seramense (M.Kato) Christenh.
- Athyrium sericellum Ching
- Athyrium sessilipinnum X.C.Zhang & R.Wei
- Athyrium setiferum C.Chr.
- Athyrium setuligerum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium sheareri (Baker) Ching
- Athyrium × shiibaense (Seriz.) Nakaike
- Athyrium × shikoku-montanum Seriz.
- Athyrium silvicola Tagawa
- Athyrium × simlense Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium sinense Rupr.
- Athyrium skinneri (Baker) C.Chr.
- Athyrium × sledgei Fraser-Jenk.
- Athyrium sohayakiense Nakaike
- Athyrium solenopteris (Kunze) T.Moore
- Athyrium spinescens Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium spinulosum (Maxim.) Milde
- Athyrium strigillosum (E.J.Lowe) T.Moore ex Salomon
- Athyrium × subchristensenianum K.Hori
- Athyrium × subcrassipes Seriz.
- Athyrium subrigescens (Hayata) H.Itô
- Athyrium suprapuberulum Ching
- Athyrium tashiroi Tagawa
- Athyrium tejeroi Mickel
- Athyrium tenuipaleatum Copel.
- Athyrium × tokashikii Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium triangulare Alderw.
- Athyrium tripinnatum Tagawa
- Athyrium × tsurutanum Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × undulatipinnulum Seriz.
- Athyrium uniforme Ching
- Athyrium venulosum Ching
- Athyrium vermae Fraser-Jenk., Khullar & Pangtey
- Athyrium vidalii (Franch. & Sav.) Nakai
- Athyrium viridescentipes Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium viviparum Christ
- Athyrium wallichianum Ching
- Athyrium wangii Ching
- Athyrium wardii (Hook.) Makino
- Athyrium × watanabei Seriz.
- Athyrium xichouense Y.T.Hsieh & Z.R.Wang
- Athyrium × yakuinsulare Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium × yakumonticola Sa.Kurata
- Athyrium yakusimense Tagawa
- Athyrium yokoscense (Franch. & Sav.) Christ
- Athyrium yuanyangense Y.T.Hsieh & W.M.Chu
- Athyrium zayuense Z.R.Wang
- Athyrium zhenfengense Ching
Cultivating Curiosity
My fascination with Athyrium extends beyond mere observation. I’ve begun cultivating several species in my own garden, carefully selecting locations that mimic their preferred woodland habitats. The process of nurturing these ferns, providing them with the right balance of shade, moisture, and well-drained soil, has deepened my appreciation for their resilience and adaptability.
Each spring, I eagerly anticipate the emergence of new fronds, unfurling like delicate scrolls. Observing their growth throughout the season, witnessing their subtle changes in color and texture, brings a sense of quiet joy and connection to the natural world.
A Continuing Journey
My exploration of Athyrium is an ongoing journey. I’m constantly seeking out new species to add to my collection, poring over botanical guides, and learning from fellow fern enthusiasts. The more I discover, the more I realize how much more there is to learn.
Athyrium, with its understated elegance and remarkable diversity, serves as a constant reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world. It’s a reminder to slow down, observe, and appreciate the intricate details that often go unnoticed. And for me, it’s a source of endless fascination and inspiration.