|
The Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) belongs to the family Dryopteridaceae. It is a semi-evergreen fern that is distributed from Europe to Asia and most of North America. It grows in moist, shady, rocky areas of forests, along riverbanks, and in shrublands. The leaves are erect, twice pinnate, and up to 120 cm long. There are 25 to 50 pairs of pinnae. The rachis is covered with orange-brown scales. The sorus is circular, with one to five pairs on each pinnule. Since ancient Greek times, the rhizome has been used to control "tapeworms".
|