Deparia petersenii
Description
Deparia petersenii, commonly known as the Japanese lady fern, is a species of fern that generally grows between in length and has a width of between. This fern does not have any flowers and can be easily identifiable having gray hairs that grow on the underside of the leaves. This perennial fern is an aggressive fast growing invasive species known for long rhizomes and ability to form a thick ground cover. D. petersenii is sometimes cultivated and can be purchased online because it is not regulated or prohibited.Distribution
This species has a large distribution in East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia south to Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia.Beyond its native range, D. petersenii is considered an invasive species in Madeira, the Azores, southeastern USA, the Hawaiian Islands, southeastern Brazil and Réunion. In the United States, it is present throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, and Hawaii with less than fifty sightings between the six states according to the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.