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Osmunda spectabilis
Willd.
Royal Fern
Osmundaceae
Osmunda spectabilis is a species of fern in the family Osmundaceae. It is widely distributed in eastern North America, and also often cultivated. Osmunda spectabilis is sometimes considered to be a variety of Osmunda regalis (FNAEC 1993), although research has shown that including it in Osmunda regalis would cause the species to be paraphyletic (Metzgar et al. 2008).
Description
Osmunda spectabilis has both fertile and sterile fronds. The sterile fronds grow near the base of the plants. They are bipinnate with light brown hairs when young. Leaves are about 0.75 to 1 m. Subleaflets are lanceolate, short-stalked. The subleaflets have slightly uneven bases (they may also be truncate); the edges are slightly toothed, and the tips are bluntly pointed. Fertile fronds are at the ends of spikes that grow above the plant. The fertile fronds themselves are much smaller, and have sporangia that are greenish, turning a red and then coppery brown. The spores are produced from early spring to midsummer (FNAEC 1993).
Osmunda claytoniana is similar to this species, but it has its sterile fronds are pinnate with pinnately lobed leaflets, and it has fertile fronds at the middle of its spikes (FNAEC 1993).
Osmunda claytoniana is similar to this species, but it has its sterile fronds are pinnate with pinnately lobed leaflets, and it has fertile fronds at the middle of its spikes (FNAEC 1993).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Osmunda spectabilis is often grown as a garden plant. It grows in USDA zones 3 to 9, and prefers wetter soils in the shade (MBG).
Distribution
Osmunda spectabilis is found in swamps, stream edges, and other wet soils (NYFA). It is found at altitudes below 2300 m. Osmunda spectabilis is widely distributed in North America, east of the Great Plains and from Ontario eastwards (FNAEC 1993).
Status
References
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z890
Metzgar, J. S., Skog, J. E., Zimmer, E. A., and Pryer, K. M. 2008. The Paraphyly of Osmunda is Confirmed by Phylogenetic Analyses of Seven Plastid Loci. Systematic Botany 33: 31–36.
NYFA (New York Flora Association). Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. New York Flora Atlas. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2053
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z890
Metzgar, J. S., Skog, J. E., Zimmer, E. A., and Pryer, K. M. 2008. The Paraphyly of Osmunda is Confirmed by Phylogenetic Analyses of Seven Plastid Loci. Systematic Botany 33: 31–36.
NYFA (New York Flora Association). Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. New York Flora Atlas. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2053
Description
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