Lady Fern or Swap Fern (Athyrium filix-femina); 1. Pinna (x2). 2. Pinnule (x9). 3. Pinna of Alpine Lady Fern (Athyrium alpestre, var. americanum) (x3).

LADY FERN or SWAMP FERN
(Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth.)

This plant is one of the park's most common ferns. Its local range is included within the Canadian zone from the lower park boundaries to about 4000 feet. Its habitat is moist, wet humid soils that may often be swampy in character. Its general range indicated its wide distribution throughout North America for it is found from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to California and Florida. In general appearance it is a large and handsome plant, its long fronds arching gracefully to form a broad open tuft of foliage. Individual fronds are 2-3 pinnate, from 2-6 feet long, widest just below the middle and tapering toward both ends; fronds are usually from 4-10 inches wide at the widest part. There is no difference in appearance between spore bearing and non spore bearing fronds. The larger pinnae are short stalked, linear to lanceolate in outline and the pinnules are sessile with either crenate (wavy) or slightly toothed margins; verination of pinnules free. The stalk of the frond is short being only about one-fifth as long as the entire blade and is green. Spores borne in oblong or horseshoe-shaped sori becoming roundish with maturity; indusium present. This fern bears abundant spores and reproduces itself readily, often being the dominant vegetation in moist places. It is herbaceous rhizome creeping to oblique.

At one time the rhizome of this plant was of some medicinal importance (see Frye - "Ferns of the Northwest"; pp. 140.) According to the old herbalists it was a vermifuge; if powdered and applied to ulcers it was supposed to bring about a cure in that case, as well as a means of healing the galled necks of cattle. The ancients considered it effective as a remedy for gallstones, hiccough, and infirmaries of the spleen as well as an aid in the cure of jaundice - provided it was boiled in wine and this concoction imbibed for forty days.

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ALPINE LADY FERN.
(Athyrium alpestre, var. americanum Butters)

As the name implies this fern is native to the upper elevations in the mountains. In Mount Rainier National Park it is most generally found in the Hudsonian zone, growing in compact clusters in talus. One of its most striking characters of a general nature is the erect, "stiffish" appearance of the densely clustered pinnae. Botanically its range includes the area from Alaska southward to California and eastward to Colorado. The fronds are 2-3 compound; 7-36 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, widest just below the middle and tapering toward each end. The stalk is short, straw colored and having straw colored scales at the base. The stalks of several fronds, which make up a cluster, are often entwined and curved beneath the rocks from which they grow. Larger Pinnae are stalked, widest at the base and somewhat triangular in outline. Those toward the base of the stalk are spaced further apart than those at the center. Pinnules incised to pinnate; sessile to short stalked. Sori round.

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