alpine lady-fern

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aspidium alpestre
• Athyrium cordatum
• Athyrium flexile
• Phegopteris flexilis
• Asplenium rhaeticum
• Athyrium alpestre subsp. flexile
• Athyrium distentifolium var. flexile
• Athyrium alpestre var. flexile
• Pseudathyrium alpestre var. flexile
• Athyrium filix-femina subsp. alpestre
• Pseudathyrium alpestre
• Pseudathyrium flexile
• Phegopteris alpestris
• Polypodium rhaeticum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically categorized within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae. It is further classified under the order Polypodiales and the family Aspleniaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Athyrium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Finland and Sweden. Additionally, its presence extends to the territories of Norway and Iceland. The species is also documented to inhabit various areas within Great Britain. Together, these locations define the northern reaches of its known range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Athyrium distentiifolium is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. As a deciduous species, it sheds its foliage annually, retreating into its dormant state before regenerating new growth in the subsequent season.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Athyrium distentiifolium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies and maintains a structure consistent with herbaceous vegetation. The plant reaches varying heights depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum height of 0.4 m and a maximum height of 1.5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.53 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.53 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Athyrium distentiifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among ferns that optimizes carbon fixation in shaded or temperate environments. The plant exhibits significant morphological investment in its foliage, with a mean leaf size of approximately 79.51335 cm². This leaf surface area is further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which maintains a mean value of 291.6 cm²/g, indicating a relatively thin and expansive leaf structure that facilitates efficient light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf size mean:

79.51335 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

291.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Athyrium distentiifolium is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that typically begins in July and concludes in September. During this timeframe, the plant undergoes its reproductive phase, facilitating the development of spores or reproductive structures. The dispersal of these reproductive units follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the plant relies on wind as the primary mechanism for anemochory, ensuring that the offspring are spread across the environment through air currents.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Athyrium distentifolium has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid, Coumaric Acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol, luteolin.

3-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Veterinary research

Coumaric Acid

1. Veterinary research

caffeic acid

1. Veterinary research

kaempferol

1. Veterinary research

luteolin

1. Veterinary research

protocatechuic acid

1. Veterinary research

quercetin

1. Veterinary research