| Struthiopteris spicant | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Aspleniineae |
| Family: | Blechnaceae |
| Genus: | Struthiopteris |
| Species: | S. spicant |
| Binomial name | |
| Struthiopteris spicant (L.) F.W.Weiss | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
Synonyms
| |
Struthiopteris spicant,syn.Blechnum spicant, is a species offern in the familyBlechnaceae. It is known by the common nameshard-fern[3] ordeer fern.
Like some other species in the familyBlechnaceae, it has two types ofleaves. The sterile leaves have flat, wavy-margined leaflets 5 to 8 millimetres (1⁄4 to3⁄8 in) wide, while the fertile leaves have much narrower leaflets, each with two thick rows ofsori on the underside.[4]
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The species was first described in 1753 byCarl Linnaeus asOsmunda spicant. It has been placed in a wide range of genera, includingBlechnum (asBlechnum spicant).[1] In thePteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), it is placed in the genusStruthiopteris, in the subfamily Blechnoideae.[5]
The Latinspecific epithetspicant is of uncertain origin, possibly referring to a tufted or spiky habit.[6]
It isnative to Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, and western North America.[1][7]
S. spicant ishardy down to −20 °C (−4 °F) andevergreen, growing to 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in).[8]
The root, shoots and leaves can be cooked asfamine food.[9]
It has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[10]
