Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth

Athyrium filix-femina, the lady fern or common lady-fern, is a large, feathery species of fern native to temperate Asia, Europe, North America, and North Africa. It is often abundant in damp, shady woodland environments and is often grown for decoration.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 49

Allantodia axillaris, Aspidium axillare, Aspidium cordatum, Aspidium filix-femina, Aspidium pontederae, Asplenium axillare, Asplenium cyathioides, Asplenium filix-femina, Asplenium monstrosum, Asplenium rhaeticum, Athyrium acrostichoideum, Athyrium axillare, Athyrium azoricum, Athyrium cassum, Athyrium convexum, Athyrium corsicum, Athyrium depauperatum, Athyrium incisum, Athyrium irriguum, Athyrium laetum, Athyrium molle, Athyrium molliusculum, Athyrium multidentatum, Athyrium officinale, Athyrium ovatum, Athyrium paramicola, Athyrium scorpioideum, Athyrium sitchense, Athyrium trifidum, Cyathea filix-femina, Cystopteris filix-femina, Filix bipinnata, Lastrea filix-femina, Nephrodium filix-femina, Phegopteris plumosa, Phegopteris rhaetica, Polypodium bifidum, Polypodium femina, Polypodium filix-femina, Polypodium leseblii, Polypodium oblongodentatum, Polypodium ovatocrenatum, Polypodium rhaeticum, Tectaria filix-femina, Aspidium filix-femina var. dentatum, Aspidium filix-femina var. incisum, Aspidium filix-femina var. multidentatum, Aspidium filix-femina var. multifidum, Asplenium filix-femina var. bidentatum

703,589 GBIF occurrences
62,545 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Increasing

Conservation: year assessed

2017

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/83611120/85426269

Habitats

IUCN: population narrative

When in suitable habitats, this species can be very abundant, occurring in large numbers. The more humid summers in western Europe have resulted in local increase in numbers (M. Christenhusz pers. comm. 2015), although it is rare on the Canary Islands (Sanchez Velazquez 2002). The population trend is increasing.

IUCN: habitat narrative

This species is frequently found on understory vegetation of deciduous and lighter patches in coniferous forest and in broadleaved woodland, hedgerows, rocky gorges, marshlands and swamps, usually on damp or wet soil, often along stream courses and in moist rocky habitats in the mountains. It can also be found in less natural sites, such as in the shade of walls, gardens, alleyways, drainage ditches and shady wet roadsides (Page 1997). It is usually found on soils that have good drainage but are permanently moist. Its altitudinal range is 0 - 2,300 m Asl. It is a vigorous species that can easily colonize disturbed habitats by spores on many types of wet soil and is tolerant to mild disturbance and pollution, even high concentrations of heavy metal contaminants. In heavily polluted areas, its rapid growth and density of vegetation cover may be of particular ecological importance (Page 1997).

IUCN: threats narrative

There are no threats to this species.

IUCN: conservation narrative

No conservation measures are currently in place and none are needed as the species is common and gregarious throughout its range. It occurs in protected areas throughout its range. It is listed as Least Concern in Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002) and Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996).

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 28 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)This fern is a widespread and common species in many places and has an increasing population trend. It is frequently present in protected areas and resilient to disturbance and pollution. In addition, it is a good coloniser and there are no major threats to the species. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Related species

Gallery

western lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina cyclosorum)