Dryopteris felix-mas

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• male fern
• male shield fern
• male wood fern
• Common Male Fern
• Male-fern
• Falguera muscle
• Poisonous Fern
• common woodfern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aspidium filix-mas
• Lastrea filix-mas
• Lophodium filix-mas
• Tectaria filix-mas
• Thelypteris filix-mas
• Polypodium filix-mas
• Nephrodium filix-mas
• Polystichum filix-mas
• Filix filix-mas

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Dryopteris filix-mas, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Polypodiinae within the order Polypodiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Polypodiaceae and is situated within the genus Dryopteris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence also extends to the unique environments of Iceland. These locations highlight the broad northern range of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dryopteris filix-mas is characterized by its ability to colonize diverse terrain, thriving primarily in forest environments where it can exploit shaded and moist conditions. This species exhibits significant adaptability to varying soil compositions, frequently establishing itself in areas composed of limestone, sand, or stony places. In terms of altitudinal distribution, it occupies a vast vertical range, with an average elevational range reaching approximately 2800 m AMSL, allowing it to persist across a wide spectrum of montane and subalpine ecosystems.

Elevational range mean:

2800 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, limestone, sand, stony places

Life history

The life history of Dryopteris filix-mas is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it survives unfavorable periods by protecting its vital organs underground. Specifically, it functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground structures to endure environmental stressors. The plant exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its fronds during its dormant phase before regenerating them in the following season.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dryopteris filix-mas is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as a vine or liana, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in size, with a minimum height of 0.3 m, a mean height of 0.75 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 1.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.75 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dryopteris filix-mas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits significant morphological investment in its photosynthetic structures, featuring a mean leaf size of 956.17 cm². This expansive surface area is further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which maintains a mean value of 242 cm²/g, indicating a relatively high ratio of leaf area to dry mass. Furthermore, Dryopteris filix-mas is a non-carnivorous species, relying entirely on traditional soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey to supplement its nutritional requirements.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

956.17 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

242 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dryopteris filix-mas is characterized by a specialized cycle that does not involve traditional flowering, as the plant lacks flowers and instead utilizes an abiotic pollination syndrome driven by wind. Its reproductive period is concentrated in the late summer, with the process starting in August and concluding in September. Rather than producing standard botanical fruits such as berries or capsules, the reproductive structures fall into the "other" category, typical of fern spores. The dispersal of these reproductive units follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind to colonize new habitats. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an absence of asexual reproduction through the specific mechanisms listed, relying instead on its spore-based lifecycle to ensure propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dryopteris filix-mas has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 9(11)-Fernene, ALBASPIDIN, Ash, Aspidin, Aspidinol.

9(11)-Fernene

1. Dr. Duke

ALBASPIDIN

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Aspidin

1. Dr. Duke

Aspidinol

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Desaspidin

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Filicin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dryopteris filix-mas has 59 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Acetylcholinergic, Allergenic, Alpha-Glucosidase-Inhibitor, Anthelmintic, AntiEBV.

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Glucosidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLegionella

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Dryopteris filix-mas has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malnutrition.

Most Reported Uses