Section 2.5: Remotae Fraser-Jenk.

Fronds 2-pinnate, lanceolate to narrowly triangular-lanceolate with truncate base; stipe and rachis densely scaly with dark scales; pinnules shallowly lobed above, becoming more deeply lobed in the proximal part of the frond, lobes rectangular.

Section Remotae was established as an artificial group to include species believed to have originated from crosses between species belonging to widely different sections. These hybrids are intermediate in their characters and do not fit in the sections of either parent species.

22. Dryopteris remota (A. Braun ex Döll) Druce (List Brit. Pl., 87. 1908).—Scaly buckler fern.—Fig. 23.

Rhizome ascending to erect, producing offshoots. Fronds dark green to 75 cm long; stipe 1/4—1/2 the length of the blade, the stipe scales narrowly triangular-lanceolate, light brown with a dark base; blade without glands, mostly narrowly triangular-lanceolate, 2-pinnate-pinnatifid at the base, 2-pinnate above, basiscopic basal pinnule of basal pinnae slightly or distinctly longer that the basal acroscopic pinnule; pinnules oblong-ovate, shallowly pinnately lobed, the lobes bearing long acute, often aristate teeth. Sori medial; indusia without glands, spores a mixture of "good" spores and some abortive spores.

Dryopteris remota is an uncommon subalpine species from Europe where it grows near forest streams. It is an apomictic triploid species believed to have originated from a cross between D. affinis subsp. affinis and probably D. expansa (Gibby and Walker 1977) . Morphologically, D. remota is intermediate between these two parent species. It may be recognized by its narrowly triangular-lanceolate, 2-pinnate, nonglandular blades that have shallowly lobed, acute slightly hair-pointed pinnules. The presence of both good and abortive spores in the sporangia is also a helpful diagnostic character.

Dryopteris remota is easily cultivated in moist soil. It grows well in the warmer climate of southern California and is nearly evergreen. Elsewhere it is deciduous. In the wild it grows in areas where the average January temperature reaches about 30° F.