Cystopteris alpina
Encyclopedia
Cystopteris alpina is a fern
in the family
Cystopteridaceae
. It is closely related to C. fragilis
and has been treated as conspecific with that species by many authors. It is known to hybridise with C. fragilis
in Scandinavia
and intermediate plants possibly of hybrid origin are known from North Wales
.
species occurring through most of Europe with populations extending into Russia and West-Asian mountain regions. It is widely distributed through Northern Scandinavia, the Alps and the Pyrenees. In Britain it is thought to be extinct having only been known from one locality in Upper Teesdale
where it was last recorded in 1911.
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cystopteridaceae
Cystopteridaceae
Based on recent cladistic evidence, Cystopteridaceae should be construed as a separate family due to its basal position, sister to all other polypodioid ferns. This clade includes only the genera Acystopteris, Cystopteris and Gymnocarpium. Woodsia is a more advanced species.The ferns in this...
. It is closely related to C. fragilis
Cystopteris fragilis
Cystopteris fragilis is a species of fern known by the common names brittle bladderfern and common fragile fern. It can be found worldwide, generally in shady, moist areas. The leaves are up to 30 or 40 centimeters long and are borne on fleshy petioles. Each leaf is divided into many pairs of...
and has been treated as conspecific with that species by many authors. It is known to hybridise with C. fragilis
Cystopteris fragilis
Cystopteris fragilis is a species of fern known by the common names brittle bladderfern and common fragile fern. It can be found worldwide, generally in shady, moist areas. The leaves are up to 30 or 40 centimeters long and are borne on fleshy petioles. Each leaf is divided into many pairs of...
in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and intermediate plants possibly of hybrid origin are known from North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
.
Distribution
C. alpina is a montaneMontane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
species occurring through most of Europe with populations extending into Russia and West-Asian mountain regions. It is widely distributed through Northern Scandinavia, the Alps and the Pyrenees. In Britain it is thought to be extinct having only been known from one locality in Upper Teesdale
Upper Teesdale
Upper Teesdale is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Teesdale district of west County Durham, England. It encompasses an extensive upland area that includes the headwaters of the River Tees and the surrounding catchment area upstream of the village of Langdon Beck.The site has a diverse...
where it was last recorded in 1911.
External links
- Cystopteris alpina at Hardy Fern Library