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Polystichum polyblepharum
(Roem. ex Kunze) C.Presl
Japanese Lace Fern
Dryopteridaceae
Polystichum polyblepharum is a species of fern in the family Dryopteridaceae. It is native to Japan, Korea, and China, and is grown as an ornamental.
Description
Polystichum polyblepharum has erect rhizomes. Rhizomes are densely covered with linear gray-brown scales. Leaves are evergreen, bipinnate, broadly elliptic-lanceolate. The blade is 37 to 70 cm long and 15 to 20 cm wide, on a 14 to 22 cm long, yellow-brown stipe. The stipe is 4 to 5 mm in diameter, covered with linear gray-brown scales at the base. The base of the leaf is slightly narrowed, and the tip is pointed. Fronds have 20 to 26 pairs of alternate, lanceolate, leaflets. Leaflets are up to 7 to 10 cm long and 1.4 to 2.2 cm wide, shortly stalked, pointed at the tip. Leaflets are pinnate, with a oblique base, with 15 to 20 pairs of alternate subleaflets. Subleaflets are oblong, 1 to 2 cm long. Midribs are covered with linear gray-brown scales below. Each subleaflet has 3 to 7 pairs of sori on either side of the midrib, usually on upper leaflets only (Wu et al. 2013).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Polystichum polyblepharum is grown as an ornamental. It prefers evenly moist but well-drained, acidic soils in part to full shade. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 9. Other than that, its fronds are used for cut flower arrangements (Harrison 2006).
Distribution
Polystichum polyblepharum is found in forests in mountainous valleys, at an altitude of 100 to 400 m. It is native to Japan and the Korean Peninsula; it has also been found in Mount Putuo and Mount Tiantai, Zhejiang and Yixing, Jiangsu (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
Harrison, Marie. 2006. Groundcovers for the South. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple 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.
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
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