Dryopteris sp. (Dryopteridaceae) (Finland, Lohja, Seppälä, 1997). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimen). – A curious plant, occurring very scantily on limestone rock, accompanied by e.g. D. filix-mas. Near-by, Carex nordica, Cotoneaster "scandinavicus", and Saxifraga adscendens were also encountered. Three important features differentiate this plant from the rather similar D. filix-mas: (i) the indusia are cordate (vs. reniform), (ii) the margins of the indusia are glandular (vs. glabrous), and (iii) the stipes of the sporangia lack glandular hairs (a poorly studied character is concerned but the sporangium stipes of D. filix-mas generally seem to bear one small, stalked gland). The fronds are small and lustrous dark green above; the young indusia do not embrace sporangia. The shape of the indusia is very peculiar; they are given to be reniform in the whole genus Dryopteris.
Created August 30, 2004. Latest revision August 12, 2008.