Family Code: ATHYRI Genus Code: ATHYR Genus CN: ladyfern Genus Authority: Roth Genus Summary: A genus of about 180 species, cosmopolitan in distribution, but concentrated in e. and se. Asia. Kelloff et al. (2002) and Kelloff & Werth (1998) support recognition of two taxa at either specific or infraspecific levels, based on morphology, allozymes, and spores. Genus Identification: Identification notes: Athyrium and Deparia superficially resemble Dryopteris, and they often grow together. Athyrium and Deparia have linear, flap-like sori (vs. rounded, reniform sori). Sterile individuals can be distinguished by the number of vascular bundles in the petiole (easily determined by breaking off a leaf and counting the vascular bundles, which will appear as thread-like, but flattened, strands); Athyrium and Deparia have 2, Dryopteris has 4-7. Genus References: Kato in FNA (1993b); Wang, He, & Kato in FoC (2013); Kramer et al. in Kramer & Green (1990); Kelloff et al. (2002). Last Updated: 2019-11-29 Publish: 1