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Questions and Answers: 2022

Question: Hi Mr. Botanist, I was wondering how one could distinguish between Athyrium angustum and A. filix-femina? I am located in …

• Question

  Hi Mr. Botanist, I was wondering how one could distinguish between Athyrium angustum and A. filix-femina? I am located in Westchester County, NY. Thanks in advance.

  Answer

  Dear dmishra, good afternoon. Using the taxonomy that recognizes Athyrium angustum as a separate species, Athyrium felix-femina doesn't occur in NY (or North America, for that matter). So, we need to understand which taxa you are actually trying to separate from Athyrium angustum (northern lady fern). Understand that past taxonomy treated all these different species as varieties or subspecies of Athyrium felix-femina, but that the taxa have always been the same (just treated at a different rank). In the northeast, we also have Athyrium asplenioides (southern lady fern). But those are the only two species in this complex. If you are asking to distinguish those two species, I can help you. Let me know please.