Dryopteris fusco-atra
Genus
Dryopteris
Species
fusco-atra
Varieties
- fusco-atra
- lamoureuxii
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- ʻIʻi
Hawaiian Names
- Ii
Common Names
- Crowned woodfern
Synonyms
- Aspidium filix-mas var. fusco-atrum
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Non-Woody, Clumping
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
Mature Size, Width
2 or more feet.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Container
Additional Landscape Use Information
This wonderful fern is seldom seen in landscaping, likely due to lack of availability. The plants seem to be adaptable to a variety moisture requirements and may even be considered for xeric landscapes. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Plant Produces Flowers
No
Plant texture
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Mealybugs.
Water Requirements
- Moist
Light Conditions
- Partial sun
- Shade
Soils
- Organic
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 1000 to 1999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 2000 to 2999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
These are common ferns found in dry to wet forests from 1640 to about 6890 feet.
The var. lamoureuxii is found in the Makawao and Koʻolau Forest Reserves from about 3020 to 6560 feet on East Maui and is considered rare. It has recently recorded from West Maui.
Special Features and Information
General Information
Dryopteris belong to the Dryopteridaceae or Woodfern family with between 200-250 species worldwide.
The Hawaiian Islands is represented by 18 endemic and one indigenous species. [1]
Etymology
Dryopteris is from the Greek dryos, oak or tree, and pteris, fern in reference to the fact that ferns of this genus are often found in woodlands.
The specific epithet fusco-atra is from the Latin fuscus, dark, dark brown, and atra, black. Daniel Palmer in Hawaiʻi's Ferns and Fern Allies comments: "The namer must have been impressed by the dark scales on this species."
The species spelling is also appears as fuscoatra (unhyphenated).
The varietal name lamoureuxii is named in honor of the late Charles H. Lamoureux (1933-2000), prominent local botanist, professor at the University of Hawaiʻi, and director at Lyon Arboretum.
Hawaiian Name:
ʻIʻi means reddish brown.
Background Information
Additional References
[1] "Moleclar phylogenetics and historical biogeography of Hawaiian Dryopteris (Dryopteridaeae)" by J.M. Geiger & T.A. Ranker, Abstract page.
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