Dryopteris affinis
Dryopteris affinis (scaly male fern or golden-scaled male fern) is a fern native to western and southern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is most abundant on moist soils in woodlands in areas with high humidity, such as the British Isles and western France. In the Mediterranean region and the Caucasus it is confined to high altitudes.
Description
Dryopteris affinis is virtually evergreen and bears light green fronds Template:Convert long, moderately stiff and hard-textured, the rachis at the base of the frond densely covered in yellow-brown scales known as ramenta. The frond is bipinnate, the pinnae up to Template:Convert long, the pinnules broad rectangular with the margin most toothed close to the pinna tip.<ref name=Blamey>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name=plantid>Template:Cite web</ref> There is a blackish spot at the base of the pinna where it joins the rachis.<ref name=Blamey/><ref name=plantid/>
Individual fronds live for about 1.5 years and remain attached to the rhizome after withering. D. affinis is closely related to Dryopteris filix-mas, distinguished by its usually more robust habit with usually more evergreen fronds, more densely scaly frond stems, and more rectangular (less tapered and lobed) pinnae and pinnules.Template:Citation needed
It is one of the larger European native ferns, with older specimens developing a dense, almost tree fern-like base up to Template:Convert high and Template:Convert broad.
Cultivation
Numerous cultivars and varieties have been selected for garden use, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- D. affinis<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 'Polydactyla Mapplebeck'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 'Crispa Gracilis'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 'Cristata'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 'Cristata Angustata'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
- Flora Europaea: Dryopteris affinis
- Hyde, H. A., Wade, A. E., & Harrison, S. G. (1978). Welsh Ferns. National Museum of Wales.