[Wildflowers West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Ferns West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

Pacific Polypody: Polypodium amorphum

The Spleenwort Family: Aspleniaceae -

Mother Spleenwort: Asplenium bulbiferum - Non-native.

Forked Spleenwort, Northern Spleenwort: Asplenium septentrionale -

Large-spored Spleenwort, Maidenhair Spleenwort, Tetraploid Spleenwort: Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens -

Maidenhair Spleenwort: Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes (Synonym: Asplenium melanocaulon) -

Green Spleenwort: Asplenium viride (Synonym:Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum) -

The Lady Fern Family: Athyriaceae -

Alpine Lady Fern, American Alpine Lady Fern: Athyrium distentifolium ssp. americanum (Synonyms: Athyrium alpestre, Athyrium alpestre var. americanum, Athyrium americanum, Athyrium distentifolium var. americanum) -

Common Ladyfern, Lady Fern, Northwestern Lady Fern: Athyrium filix-femina ssp. cyclosorum (Synonyms: Athyrium alpestre var. cyclosorum, Athyrium filix-femina var. californicum, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum) -

The Chain Fern Family: Blechnaceae -

Deer Fern: Struthiopteris spicant (Synonym: Blechnum spicant, Blechnum spicant ssp. nipponicum) -

Chain Fern, Giant Chain Fern, Giant Chain-fern: Woodwardia fimbriata (Synonym: Woodwardia chamissoi) -

The Fragile Fern Family: Cystopteridaceae

Bladder Fern, Brittle Bladderfern, Brittle Fern, Fragile Fern: Cystopteris fragilis (Synonyms: Cystopteris dickieana, Cystopteris fragilis var. fragilis, Polypodium fragile) -

Pacific Oakfern, Pacific Oak-fern, Western Oakfern, Western Oak-fern: Gymnocarpium disjunctum (Synonyms: Dryopteris disjuncta, Gymnocarpium dryopteris ssp. disjunctum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris var. disjunctum, Polypodium dryopteris var. disjunctum) -

Common Fern, Common Oakfern, Northern Oak Fern, Western Oakfern: Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Synonyms: Dryopteris linnaeana, Lastrea dryopteris, Phegopteris dryopteris, Polypodium dryopteris, Thelypteris dryopteris) -

The Bracken Family: Dennstaedtiaceae -

Bracken, Brake Fern, Hairy Bracken, Western Brackenfern, Northern Bracken: Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens (Synonym: Pteridium aquilinum ssp. lanuginosum, Pteridium aquilinum ssp. pubescens, Pteridium aquilinum var. lanuginosum, Pteris aquilinum var. pubescens) -

The Wood Fern Family: Dryopteridaceae -

California Wood Fern, Coastal Woodfern, Coastal Wood Fern, Marginal Wood Fern: Dryopteris arguta (Synonym: Aspidium argutum) -

Spinulose Fern, Spinulose Woodfern, Toothed Wood Fern: Dryopteris carthusiana (Synonyms: Dryopteris austriaca var. spinulosa, Dryopteris spinulosa, Polypodium carthusianum, Polypodium spinulosum) -

Northern Fern, Northern Woodfern, Spreading Woodfern, Spreading Wood Fern: Dryopteris expansa (Synonyms: Dryopteris assimilis, Dryopteris austriaca, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris dilitata var. americana, Nephrodium expansum) -

Male Fern: Dryopteris filix-mas (Synonym: Polypodium filix-mas) -

Anderson's Holly-fern, Anderson's Sword Fern, Vancouver Holly Fern: Polystichum andersonii (Synonyms: Polystichum braunii ssp. andersonii, Polystichum braunii var. andersonii) -

California Sword Fern, California Sword-fern: Polystichum californicum (Synonyms: Aspidium californicum, Polystichum aculeatum var. californicum) -

Imbricate Sword Fern, Narrowleaf Swordfern, Narrow-leaved Sword-fern: Polystichum imbricans ssp. imbricans (Synonyms: Polystichum munitum ssp. imbricans, Polysticum munitum ssp. nudatum, Polystichum munitum var. imbricans) -

Holly Fern, Kruckeberg's Holly-fern, Kruckeberg's Sword Fern: Polystichum kruckebergii -

Lemmon's Holly-fern, Shasta Fern, Shasta Sword Fern: Polystichum lemmonii (Synonym: Polystichum mohrioides, Polystichum mohrioides var. lemmonii) -

Northern Holly-fern, Mountain Fern, Mountain Holly Fern: Polystichum lonchitis (Synonym: Polypodium lonchitis) -

Common Sword Fern, Western Fern, Western Sword-fern: Polystichum munitum (Synonyms: Aspidium munitum, Polystichum munitum var. munitum) -

Mountain Holly-fern, Rock Sword Fern: Polystichum scopulinum (Synonym: Aspidium aculeatum var. scopulinum, Polystichum mohrioides, Polystichum mohrioides var. scopulinum) -

Grapeferns and Moonworts: Ophioglossaceae -

Crenulate Moonwort, Dainty Moonwort, Scalloped Moonwort: Botrychium crenulatum -

Lanceleaf Moonwort, Lanceleaf Grapefern, Lance-leaved Grapefern, Red Triangle Moonwort, Triangle Moonwort: Botrychium lanceolatum (Synonyms: Botrychium lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum, Botrychium lanceolatum var. lanceolatum) -

Mingan Moonwort: Botrychium minganense (Synonyms: Botrychium lunaria var. minganense, Botrychium lunaria var. onondagense) -

Northern Moonwort, Northwestern Moonwort, St. John's Moonwort: Botrychium pinnatum (Synonym: Botrychium boreale ssp. obtusilobum) -

Least Moonwort, Little Grapefern: Botrichium simplex -

Green Triangle Moonwort: Botrychium viride -

Common Grapefern, Rattlesnake-fern, Rattlesnake Fern, Rattlesnake Grapefern, Virginia Grapefern: Botrypus virginianus (Synonyms: Botrychium virginianum, Osmunda virginiana) -

Adder's Tongue, Northern Adder's-tongue: Ophioglossum pusillum (Synonym: Ophioglossum vulgatum) -

Leather Grapefern, Leather Grape-fern, Leathery Grapefern: Sceptridium multifidum (Synonyms: Botrychium multifidum, Botrychium multifidum ssp. silaifolilum, Botrychium silaifolium) -

The Polypody Family: Polypodiaceae -

Pacific Polypody, Irregular Polypody: Polypodium amorphum (Synonym: Polypodium montense) -

Nested Polypody: Polypodium calirhiza (Synonyms: Polypodium californicum, Polypodium californicum var. kaulfussii) -

Licorice Fern: Polypodium glycyrrhiza (Synonym: Polypodium vulgare var. occidentale) -

Western Polypody: Polypodium hesperium (Synonym: Polypodium vulgare var. columbianum) -

Leathery Polypody, Leather-leaved Polypody, Coast Polypody, Scouler's Polypody: Polypodium scouleri -

The Maidenhair Family: Pteridaceae -

Aleutian Maidenhair, Aleutian Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern, Western Maidenhair, Western Maidenhair Fern: Adiantum aleuticum var. aleuticum (Synonym: Adiantum pedatum, Aleuticum pedatum var. aleuticum) -

California Maidenhair Fern: Adiantum jordanii -

Indian's Dream, Oregon Cliff Brake, Podfern: Aspidotis densa (Synonyms: Cheilanthes siliquosa, Cryptogramma densa, Onychium densum, Pellaea densa) -

American Parsley Fern, American Rockbrake: Cryptogramma acrostichoides (Synonyms: Cryptogramma crispa, Cryptogramma crispa ssp. acrostichoides, Cryptogramma crispa var. acrostichoides) -

Cascade Parsley Fern, Cascade Rockbrake: Cryptogramma cascadensis -

Lace Lipfern, Lace Fern: Myriopteris gracillima (Synonym: Cheilanthes gracillima) -

Coastal Lipfern: Myriopteris intertexta (Synonym: Cheilanthes intertexta) -

Coffee Fern: Pellaea andromedifolia -

Sierra Cliffbrake, Sierra Cliff-brake, Sierra Cliff Brake, Sierran Cliff-brake: Pellaea brachyptera (Synonym: Platyloma brachyptera) -

Brewer's Cliffbrake, Brewer's Cliff-brake, Brewer's Cliff Brake: Pellaea breweri -

Goldback Fern, Gold-back Fern, Gold Fern: Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis (Synonyms: Pentagramma triangularis ssp. semipallida, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis, Pityrogramma triangularis, Pityogramma triangularis var. triangularis) -

The Maiden Hair Family: Thelypteridaceae -

Sierra Marsh Fern, Sierra Wood Fern: Thelypteris nevadensis (Synonym: Dryopteris oregana) -

The Cliff Fern Family: Woodsiaceae

Oregon Fern, Oregon Cliff Fern: Woodsia oregana ssp. oregana -

Laurentian Cliff Fern, Laurent's Cliff Fern: Woodsia scopulina ssp. laurentiana -

Mountain Fern, Rocky Mountain Cliff Fern, Rocky Mountain Woodsia, : Woodsia scopulina ssp. scopulina -

Western Oregon Fern Key:

The following key is only a partial key of northwest ferns that are typically found at low elevations near urban areas:.

Key:

1A. Ferns with compound leaf fronds (The leaflets are made of many even smaller leaflets.). Go to 2.

1B. Ferns with simple leaf fronds (The leaflets do not have smaller leaflets on them.). Go to 6.

2A. Compound ferns that are widest at the bottom. Go to 3.

2B. Compound ferns that are widest in the middle or fan-shaped. Go to 5.

3A. Compound ferns that are broadly triangular in shape. Go to 4.

3B. Compound ferns that are narrower, perhaps as wide in the middle as at the base. A fern found in rock fall areas and cliffs. Height to 1 foot. See Fragile Fern Cystopteris fragilis.

4A. Compound ferns of moist forests and openings, and sometimes rocky slopes. Height 1-2 feet tall. See Oak Fern Gymnocarpium disjunctum.

4B. Compound ferns that are found in meadows or open woods. Height to 2-3 feet tall. See Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum.

5A. Compound ferns that are widest in the middle, tapering to points at both the base and also the tip. See Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina. (Note: some Wood Ferns also fit this lead!)

5B. Compound ferns that have leaflets that arise from a central stem in a palmate manner like many fingers from the hand. A fern of moist places. See Maidenhair Fern Adiantum aleuticum .

6A. Individual leaflets have a bare peg-like stem where they attach to midrib (main stem arising from ground). Go to 7.

6B. Individual leaflets have a leaf edge which extends to and touches the midrib. The leaflet has no bare peg attaching it to the midrib. Go to 8.

7A.

Large fern to several feet tall with long leaflets having serrate margins, an upward pointing tooth near the base of the leaflet, and a pointed tip. See Sword Fern Polystichum munitum .

7B. Short fern of cliffs and talus slopes, especially were moist and often near waterfalls. Leaflets are rounded. See Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes .

8A. Simple fern with the widest leaflets at the middle of the frond. Leaflets long, thin, and with rounded tips. Fronds 1-2 feet long. See Deer Fern Blechnum spicant .

8B. Simple fern with the widest leaflets at the bottom, or near the bottom of the frond. Leaflets long, thin, and usually with pointed tips. Fronds usually less than 1 foot long. Often found growing on trees. Rhizome tastes like black licorice. See Licorice Fern Polypodium glycyrrhiza

Paul Slichter E-mail