Woodsia scopulina

Woodsia scopulina, common name Rocky Mountain woodsia, is a deciduous perennial fern in the family Woodsiaceae.

Woodsia scopulina

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Aspleniineae
Family: Woodsiaceae
Genus: Woodsia
Species:
W. scopulina
Binomial name
Woodsia scopulina

This plant is native to the western and northern United States and Canada. W. scopulina is a small to medium sized fern, 10-30 centimeters high, which grows in mesic to dry rock crevices.[2][3]

Description

Woodsia scopulina has twice pinnate fronds arising from a short scaly rhizome. The mostly upright fronds are 10–30 cm in length and up to 8 cm in width and are medium to pale green in color. The pinnae and rachis are sparsely to moderately covered with long hairs that protrude sharply (not appressed to stem), some with a globular gland at the tip. The rachis is grooved on top (adaxially). Small round sori on the underside of pinnae are initially partly covered with a narrowly lobed indusium. New leaves show circinate vernation (tightly curled).[4][3]

Range

Woodsia scopulina is widespread in mountains near the west coast of North America from southern Alaska to southern California, and in the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to Colorado. There are also isolated populations in northeastern North America.[4]

Habitat

Woodsia scopulina is commonly found in sunny rocky habitats including rock crevices, talus slopes, and rock ledges.[3]

  • Leafing out in spring
    Leafing out in spring
  • Growing among talus rock
    Growing among talus rock

References
  1. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.807064/Woodsia_scopulina
  2. Dale H. Witt, Janet E. Marsh, and Robin B. Bovey, Mosses Lichens and Ferns of Northwest North America (Edmonton: Lone Pine, 1988), p. 273
  3. Burke Herbarium Image Collection, Chaenactis thompsonii
  4. Hitchcock, C.L. and Cronquist, A. 2018. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Edition, p. 60. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
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