Athyrium melanolepis
(Franch. & Sav.) Christ.
fern
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(c) Alison Pollack, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alison Pollack
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(c) David Midgley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
Summary
A compact fern reaching 0.3 m tall. Accommodates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with well-drained preference. Tolerates very acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Grows in full shade to semi-shade and prefers moist to wet soil conditions.
Description
A compact fern reaching 0.3 m tall. Accommodates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with well-drained preference. Tolerates very acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Grows in full shade to semi-shade and prefers moist to wet soil conditions.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: The very young fronds (croziers) are eaten. No more details are given, but some caution is advised. See the notes above on toxicity.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Japan, Korea,
Propagation
Spores - surface sow in a pot of sterile compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep moist, this is most easily done by putting the pot in a plastic bag. Pot up small clumps of the plants when they are large enough to handle and keep them moist until they are established. Plant out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring as plants come into growth. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.
Other Uses
None known Special Uses
Notes
There are about 180 Athyrium species. Also put in the family Aspleniaceae and Woodsiaceae.
References (2)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- www.eFloras.org Flora of China
