Dryopteris

Dryopteris, or Woodferns, is a large group of ferns consisting of several hundred species which are found in the woodland, fields, and wet areas of the United States, Europe, Japan, and many other locations. They are largeley to be found in temperate regions, with most species occuring in southern and eastern Asia and the Himalaya Range.

More than thirty species are endemic to the Americas, with around 34 endemic to the United States (including Hawai`i). Hybridization amoung members of the genus particularly is well know, with around 13 naturally occuring hydrids found in the United States and Canada.

Three species are found in California: Dryopteris arguta, Dryopteris expansa , and Dryopteris filix-mas.

Click here for a distribution map for Dryopteris in the United States and Canada (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service).

Click here for Dryopteris in the the Encyclopedia of Life.

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