Biology:Dryopteris cristata

Short description: Species of fern

Dryopteris cristata
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Polypodiineae
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Dryopteris
Species:	D. cristata
Binomial name
Dryopteris cristata (L.) A.Gray
Synonyms
List ? lancastriensis Spreng. Acrostichum callipteris (Ehrh.) Ehrh. Aspidium cristatum (L.) Sw. Aspidium cristatum var. crenatum Christ Aspidium lancastriense Spreng. Asplenium lancastriensis Spreng. Dryopteris affinis var. cristata (T.Moore) Fraser-Jenk. Dryopteris cristata var. cristata (Linnaeus) A.Gray Dryopteris cristata var. lancastriensis (Spreng.) Tidestr. Dryopteris cristata var. mariana Tidestr. Filix cristata (L.) Farw. Filix-mas cristata (L.) Farw. Lastrea callipteris (Ehrh.) Newman Lastrea cristata (L.) C.Presl Lastrea lancastriensis (Spreng.) J.Sm. Lophodium callipteris (Ehrh.) Newman Nephrodium cristatum (L.) Michx. Nephrodium cristatum f. lancastriense (Spreng.) Gilbert Nephrodium lancastriense (Spreng.) Desv. Polypodium callipteris Ehrh. Polypodium cristatum L. Polystichum callipteris (Ehrh.) Bernh. Polystichum cristatum (L.) Roth Tectaria cristata (L.) Lag., Garcia & Clem. Thelypteris cristata (L.) Nieuwl.

Dryopteris cristata is a species of fern native to wetlands throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is known as crested wood fern, crested buckler-fern or crested shieldfern. This plant is a tetraploid species of hybrid origin, one parent being Dryopteris ludoviciana and the other being the unknown, apparently extinct species, dubbed Dryopteris semicristata, which is also one of the presumed parents of Dryopteris carthusiana. D. cristata in turn is one of the parents of Dryopteris clintoniana, another fern of hybrid origin.

The crested wood fern is a wetland plant, needing year-round moisture. The fronds often grow quite tall, up to a meter or more in height, but are extremely narrow under most conditions.

Anti-microbial properties

It is known that this plant has been used as an anti-microbial agent; for example, root extracts from D. cristata (as well as the kindred species D. arguta) has been shown efficacious in expelling intestinal parasites from certain mammals.

References

• U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2009. USDA PLANTS Profile: Dryopteris cristata
• Dryopteris cristata in Flora of North America

Wikidata ☰ Q1637866 entry