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Dryopteris ×australis
Dryopteris ×australis (Wherry) Small (pro sp.)
Woodfern
Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern Family)
Synonym(s): Dryopteris clintoniana var. australis, Dryopteris cristata var. australis
USDA Symbol: DRAU5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
"Dryopteris ×australis is a semi-fertile hybrid of Dryopteris celsa and Dryopteris ludoviciana. This location is the type locality found by Edger T. Wherry in 1937. There are still several clusters of the fern at the sight. The hybrid is partially evergreen with the fertile portions being deciduous. In the summer it is a very handsome plant. The hybrid has some ability to reproduce by spores. I know of three sites for the hybrid. At all but one, there are no parent ferns present. At the site in Burke County, Georgia, Dryopteris ludoviciana is present.
Dryopteris celsa is a fertile hybrid between Dryopteris goldiana and Dryopteris ludoviciana. D. goldiana is restricted to high elevations of the mountains and D. ludoviciana is a coastal plain species. It is speculated that the two species were compressed into each others range during Pleistocene glaciation. This is when hybridization most likely occurred to form D. celsa.
Today, D. celsa is an uncommon species in the southeastern U.S. It is increasingly rare in the coastal plain where it would encounter D. ludoviciana. It is unknown why D. ×australis is most often found without the parents. All the sites where I have seen D. ×australis are in wet swampy areas which is the preferred habitat for D. ludoviciana. It is likely that that species once lived further north." -- Alan Cressler (on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_cressler/5343270384/)
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Not ApplicableBloom Notes: Non-flowering, sporulating plant.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , GA , LA , MD , MS , SC , TN , VANational Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Additional resources
USDA: Find Dryopteris ×australis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Dryopteris ×australis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dryopteris ×australis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2018-06-25Research By: SET