Athyrium pectinatum

Athyrium pectinatum (Wall. ex Mett.) T. Moore, Index Fil. 186 1860. (syn: Asplenium filix-femina var. pectinatum Wall. ex C.B. Clarke; Asplenium pectinatum Wall. ex Mett.; Athyrium filix-femina subsp. pectinatum (Wall. ex Mett.) Á. Löve & D. Löve; Athyrium filix-femina var. pectinatum (Wall. ex Mett.) Bedd.);
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N. Indian Subcontinent to SE. Tibet: Assam, East Himalaya, India, Nepal, Tibet, West Himalaya as per POWO;

Araiostegia sp? ABJUL01/03 : 2 posts by 1 author. 6 images.

These beautiful frilly ferns are growing everywhere including mossy tree trunks. I think these belong to Araiostegia species but am not sure about the precise identity. Please advise.

Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP

1800m

01 July 2015
The stipe is grooved underneath;

A reply from …;
No, that’s Athyrium pectinatum and is terrestrial unlike Araiostegia (or Katoella) – a fertile frond would show you the slightly elongated sorus, and also has a yet more finely divided lamina.

Id of the plant species: 2 images.
Habitat terrestrial, collected from chamoli

This is Athyrium pectinatum – a very pretty thing that grows in masses at mid to upper-mid altitude. The fronds completely disappear in Winter, but don’t worry or think it has died – it will come up again in Spring from underground.

References:
The Plant List Ver.1.1 Tropicos IPNI Flora of China FOC illustration India Biodiversity Portal

Updated on November 14, 2025

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