Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta (Filicophyta)
Class: Pteridopsida (Filicopsida)
Order: Athyriales
Family: Athyriaceae Genus: Athyrium

Deparia thelypterioides

Common name: silvery glade fern

• AKA: Athyrium thelypterioides
• Range: Northeastern United States
• Confused with:
• Asplenium asplenioides
• Asplenium angustum
• Thelypteris palustris
• Chromosome count: n=40

The silvery glade fern is a common northeastern fern, favoring moist hillsides, stream bottoms and stream banks. It prefers cooler climes.

The fronds are pinnate-pinnatifid. The fertile fronds are taller than the sterile fronds, and the lamina is slightly more constricted. The sterile fronds emerge in the spring, while the fertile fronds emerge in the summer. The name "silvery" is due to the sori, just before ripening, turning a silver color.

The silvery glade fern is readily adaptable to the garden, preferring rich soil that does not dry out. It travels and spreads more slowly than do the other native Athyriums.