[[2]]Its genus name is from Greek a- ('without') and Latinized Greek thureos ('shield'), describing its inconspicuous indusium (sorus' covering).[1]
The common name "lady fern" refers in particular to the common lady fern.[2]
Athyrium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Small Angle Shades and Sthenopis auratus.
Species
There are about 180, including:
References
1. ^{{cite book|author1=Lloyd H. Snyder, Jr.|author2=James G. Bruce|title=Field Guide to the Ferns and Other Pteridophytes of Georgia|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=n1iTLCVYcksC|page=114}}|accessdate=26 September 2013|date=1 October 1986|publisher=University of Georgia Press|isbn=978-0-8203-2385-5|page=114}}
2. ^Entry "lady fern", New Oxford American Dictionary 3rd edition (2010) by Oxford University Press, Inc.
3. ^1 {{cite journal |author=Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, Xian-Chun Zhang & Harald Schneider |year=2011 |title=A linear sequence of extant families and genera of lycophytes and ferns |journal=Phytotaxa|volume=19|pages=7–54 |url=http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/content/2011/f/pt00019p054.pdf}}