top of page
Dryopteris lacera
(Thunb.) Kuntze
Leathery Wood Fern
Dryopteridaceae
Dryopteris lacera is a species of fern in the family Dryopteridaceae. It is native to southeastern and northeastern China, Japan, and Korea.
Description
Dryopteris lacera grows up to 80 cm tall and has erect, short rhizomes. Leaves are pinnate-pinnatifid, elliptic to oblong. The blade is 40 to 70 cm long and 15 to 30 cm wide at the middle, on a relatively short, straw-colored stipe. The stipe is densely covered with relatively large, brown, lanceolate scales. Fronds have about 10 pairs of lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate leaflets. Leaflets are shortly stalked, pointed at the tip. Leaflets are pinnately lobed and toothed (divided at the base), ovate to lanceolate, 2 cm long and 0.5 to 1 cm wide. The midrib is covered with lanceolate to scales, persisting on the lower side. Sori are found only on upper leaflets; indusia are roughly round (Wu et al. 2013).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Dryopteris lacera is used as an ornamental. It prefers moist, humusy soils in part to full shade, and grows in USDA zones 5 to 8 (MBG).
Distribution
Dryopteris lacera is found in upland open forests and rocky slopes. In Taiwan, it is found at altitudes of 1600 to 2500 m. It is native to the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Sichuan, north to central Taiwan, as well as Japan and the Korean Peninsula (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Dryopteris lacera. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d244
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description
bottom of page