Dryopteris aemula

Dryopteris aeulis, commonly known as the female fern, is a significant medicinal plant valued in traditional herbal medicine. Native to various forest ecosystems, this fern contains bioactive compounds utilized for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It plays a vital role in treating various ailments through diverse therapeutic applications.

  • Scientific name: Dryopteris aemula
  • Family: Polypodiaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, specifically within the family Polypodiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed by the genus Dryopteris.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Polypodiinae WCVP
Order Polypodiales WCVP
Family Polypodiaceae WCVP
Genus Dryopteris WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Dryopteris aeulis, is a species of fern that holds various regional designations. In Welsh, it is referred to as Marchredynen bêr, while in Irish, its common name is raithneach chumhra.
Language Common Name Source
cy Marchredynen bêr Wikidata
ga raithneach chumhra Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, it is also widely distributed across Southwestern Europe, specifically in France and Spain. Furthermore, its range extends westward into the Atlantic towards Macaronesia, where it inhabits the Azores. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in diverse European environments.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Northern Europe Ireland WCVP
Southwestern Europe France WCVP
Southwestern Europe Spain WCVP
Macaronesia Azores WCVP
Macaronesia Canary Is. WCVP
Macaronesia Madeira WCVP
Caucasus Transcaucasus WCVP
Western Asia Türkiye WCVP

Chemicals

Dryopteris aemula has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, kaempferol, luteolin.

Total chemicals
7
Scientific sources
7

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
3-hydroxybenzoic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
caffeic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
coumaric acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
kaempferol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
luteolin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
protocatechuic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
quercetin 1 ★☆☆☆☆