Alpine Bladder-fern
Cystopteris alpina (Lam.) Desv.
Cystopteris alpina, known as Alpine Bladder-fern, is a fern in the family Cystopteridaceae. It is closely related to Cystopteris fragilis and has sometimes been considered the same species. However, it is now recognized as an allopolyploid hybrid, likely derived from Cystopteris montana. Hybridization with C. fragilis occurs in Scandinavia, and intermediate forms have been observed in North Wales.
Description
Cystopteris alpina is a member of the Cystopteridaceae family and is found in regions including North and South Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Asia. It was first described in 1827. The species is known to hybridize with C. fragilis, and hybrid forms are documented in Scandinavia. Intermediate plants, possibly of hybrid origin, have also been recorded in North Wales. Taxonomically, it is distinct from C. fragilis and is recognized as an allopolyploid species with C. montana as one likely parent, according to the Flora of North America.
Other common names
Alpine Bladder-fern
Distribution
NO · SE · Albania · Austria · Bulgaria · Corse · Czechoslovakia · France · Germany · Great Britain · Greece · Iran · Italy · Morocco · North European Russi · Norway · Poland · Romania · Sicilia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Transcaucasus · Turkey · Ukraine · Yugoslavia
Synonyms
Cyathea incisaAspidium alpinumAspidium taygetenseNephrodium alpinumAthyrium alpinumCystopteris taygetensisCystopteris fumarioidesPolypodium alpinumCyathea alpinaCystopteris regia f. latilobaCystopteris alpina f. latilobaCystopteris filix-fragilis subsp. alpinaCystopteris fragilis subsp. alpinaCystopteris fragilis var. fumariiformisCystopteris regia var. alpinaCystopteris regia var. fumariiformisCystopteris fragilis subsp. alpinaCystopteris fragilis var. alpinaPolypodium alpinumPolypodium alpinumCystea alpinaCyathea alpinaCystea alpina