Royal Fern – It's Many Names
The Royal Fern is one of those ferns that everyone recognizes and likes.
Fairfield Aubudon, Fairfield, CT, USA
Fairfield, CT, USA
Fairfield, CT, USA
There are several species around the world: Osmunda regalis, Europe, Africa, and Asia; Osmunda spectabilis, North America and South America (New World); Osmunda; Osmunda lancea, East Asia; Osmunda japonica, Japan.
The scientific names of Royal Fern have changed recently as have many ferns due to many DNA analysis studies.
Osmunda regalis var. regalis
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis
Struthiopteris regalis
Aphyllocalpa regalis
With the paper by Metzgar, Jordan S., Judith E. Skog, Elizabeth A. Zimmer, and Kathleen M. Pryer (2008) "The Paraphyly of Osmunda is Confirmed by Phylogenetic Analyses of Seven Plastid Loci." Systematic Botany, 33(1): pp. 31–36
was the study that changed the names from varieties to specific genus-species.
Whatever the name Royal Fern is a one of royal, majestic ferns of the temperate regions.