2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Dryopteris (Latin Dryopteris) - shade-loving decorative-leaved fern from the Shchitovnikovye family. Its second name is shitnikov.
Description
Driopteris is an incredibly beautiful fern with a height of half a meter to one and a half meters, capable of boasting very large, repeatedly dissected or feathery fronds - this is how fern leaves are called. Strong and short rhizomes of Driopteris slightly rise above the soil surface, and they are all covered with rather wide, often whole scales or glands (usually along the edges). This handsome man has no stems - its leaves extend directly from the underground rhizomes. And the leaves of this plant can be of two types: either triangular and thrice-pinnate, or lanceolate and double-pinnate, with rare exceptions collected in bizarre bunches of regular shape, which in turn can be nested or funnel-shaped.
Above, the leaf blades are naked, with free veins, but the rachis of the leaves sometimes turn out to be covered with scales, somewhat reminiscent of those scales that cover the rhizomes. Sporangia are usually arranged in rows on the undersides of the leaves, however, sometimes they can be scattered in a completely random way.
In total, the genus Dryopteris has about one hundred and fifty species, and some sources even claim that the number of species can reach up to two hundred and fifty. Moreover, the formation of many species is nothing more than the result of interspecific hybridization.
Where grows
Despite the fact that dryopteris is quite widespread throughout almost the entire planet, it can most often be found in the Northern Hemisphere, in a temperate climatic zone. And the vastness of species diversity can boast of the vastness of East Asia.
Usage
Planting dryopteris is perfectly combined with a wide variety of shade-loving plants equipped with fairly wide simple leaves, for example, elecampane, hosts or butterbur. In addition, much more delicate leaves of no less spectacular cochid ferns will look very cool next to dryopteris.
Rhizomes, as well as fronds (the latter to a much lesser extent) of male dryopteris, are poisonous, and if consumed in toxic doses, they can easily lead to nausea, headaches, drowsiness, and in some cases, paralysis.
Growing and caring
Driopteris will feel great on any garden soils (in general, it is completely undemanding to the composition of soils, however, this fern can boast of its best development on a soil enriched with various organic substances and slightly acidic soil), while it grows best in dense shade - on the open the sun, this handsome man is noticeably shallow. And dryopteris does not tolerate heat very well, besides, direct sunlight often leads to the appearance of extremely unsightly burns on the leaves of the plant.
Frost resistance in Dryopteris is very good (short-term drops in temperature to minus five degrees are absolutely not a problem for him), and he needs moderate moisture. This fern will not refuse feeding either - it is especially partial to organic feeding. And its reproduction is carried out by segments of rhizomes containing renewal buds - as a rule, this happens either in spring or at the end of summer. However, it is quite permissible to propagate this plant by spores.
