Deparia petersenii (Kunze) M. Kato

Japanese False Spleenwort; Peterson's Spleenwort; Japanese Lady Fern

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Japanese False Spleenwort is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Lady Fern family (Athyriaceae). It is native to China, Japan, Korea; South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. In Alabama it can be found in the southern half of the state. Japanese False Spleenwort occurs along streams and rivers, on moist soil or rock banks, in Bald Cypress swamps, in roadside ditches, and in moist disturbed habitats. It is a perennial with a creeping, dark brown rhizome. The apex of the rhizome is covered in dark brown lanceolate scales. The petiole of the fronds is black at the base with pale brown scales and tan towards the top. Fronds are petiolate, deciduous, ovate to oblong-lanceolate in outline, and deeply pinnate-pinnatifid. The frond is pubescent with multicellular hairs. Japanese False Spleenwort reproduces by spores formed in sori located on the lower surface of the frond. The sori are grouped in elongate clusters and covered with an indusium. Japanese False Spleenwort is listed as an invasive species by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. It is also listed as an invasive species in Madeira, the Azores, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Réunion.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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