Woodwardia areolata

Taxobox
name = "Woodwardia areolata"


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pteridophyta
classis = Pteridopsida
ordo = Athyriales
familia = Blechnaceae
genus = "Woodwardia"
species = "W. areolata"
binomial = "Woodwardia areolata"
binomial_authority = (L.) T.Moore

"Woodwardia areolata" (Netted Chain Fern) is a species of fern native to eastern North America. It is usually treated in the genus "Woodwardia", but sometimes transferred to the monotypic genus "Lorinseria" as "Lorinseria areolata" (L.) C.Presl, on the basis of its anastamosing veins and lobed frond form, as well as its more marked frond dimorphism; however, the genus name "Lorinseria" is invalid, being an orthographical variant of "Lorinsera" Opiz ("Flora of North America").

The sterile fronds are 40-60 cm long, and the fertile fronds 50-70 cm long. It requires wet, acid conditions, often growing in seeps. It is most common along the Atlantic coastal plain, being an avid colonizer of acid mine seeps in the eastern United States, one of the few plants to benefit from acid mine drainage.

It is superficially similar to "Onoclea sensibilis" and sometimes confused with it.

References

* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233501357 Flora of North America: "Woodwardia areolata"]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?403285 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Woodwardia areolata"]