DRYOPTERIS. An enormous group of ferns, well scattered over the globe, with few common features recognizable by anyone but a professional botanist. The following should give some impression of their diversity. Culture and hardiness as shown.
arguta. Wood fern. A plant of summer-dry woods in California, thriving under conditions intolerable to most typical ferns. It has short, slowly creeping rhizomes, from which erect, lacy fronds appear a few at a time, rising 1’ to 2½’. The fronds are evergreen. Sun or (preferably) light shade near the coast, light shade inland, most soils, only occasional summer watering (the plants can go quite dry when established). Hardy to 10oF or less.
dilatata. The California native populations formerly grouped under this species have been reassigned to D. expansa; this is probably the correct identity of the current material. This is a plant of moist, usually shady spots, always standing out from the brackens and woodwardias which tend to share its habitat. The leaves are produced in a broad fountain, like those of lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), but they are quite wide relative to their height, which can be over 3’. The fronds are twice to three times divided and have an intricate, lacy appearance. Probably hardy to 0oF.
erythrosora. Autumn fern. A hardy evergreen species, with rhizomes branching freely to produce compact colonies. The fronds are about 2’ tall, bronze to red in new growth changing to dark green when mature, and polished in surface. A fine container plant, though it will need periodic division to relieve overcrowding. Light to medium shade, most soils, regular watering. Hardy to below 0oF.