Polystichum
holly-fern, sword-fern
14 species
1 subspecies and varieties
1 subspecies and varieties
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Polystichum andersonii – Vancouver holly-fern, Anderson's sword-fern
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern Alaska to northern Oregon, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana.
Habitat: Deep woods and thickets in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern Alaska to northern Oregon, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana.
Habitat: Deep woods and thickets in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum braunii – Braun's holly-fern
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known only from Pend Oreille County; Alaska to northeastern Washington, east to northern Idaho, also from Great Lakes region to northeastern North America; interruptedly circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist coniferous forest, often where rocky.
Origin: Native
Spores: June-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known only from Pend Oreille County; Alaska to northeastern Washington, east to northern Idaho, also from Great Lakes region to northeastern North America; interruptedly circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist coniferous forest, often where rocky.
Origin: Native
Spores: June-October
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum californicum – California sword-fern
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Moist forest understory at low elevations, typically in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Spores: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Moist forest understory at low elevations, typically in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Spores: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum imbricans – imbricate sword-fern, rock sword-fern
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, eastern Idaho, and northern Idaho.
Habitat: Drier habitats such as open rock crevices and dry conifer forest, occasionally on serpentine, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, eastern Idaho, and northern Idaho.
Habitat: Drier habitats such as open rock crevices and dry conifer forest, occasionally on serpentine, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. imbricans – imbricate fern, narrow-leaved sword fern
Polystichum kruckebergii – holly fern, Kruckeberg's sword fern fern
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympics and Cascades mountains in Washington; southeast Alaska to California, east to Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Utah.
Habitat: Open slopes, typically among rocks; tolerant of serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympics and Cascades mountains in Washington; southeast Alaska to California, east to Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Utah.
Habitat: Open slopes, typically among rocks; tolerant of serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum lemmonii – Lemmon's holly fern, Shasta fern
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the northern half of Washington, southern British Columbia to northern California.
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes near timberline in the mountains, chiefly on serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in the northern half of Washington, southern British Columbia to northern California.
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes near timberline in the mountains, chiefly on serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum lonchitis – mountain fern, northern holly fern
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, also in the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America; Greenland.
Habitat: Talus slopes and cliff crevices, occasionally in coniferous forests, middle to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, also in the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America; Greenland.
Habitat: Talus slopes and cliff crevices, occasionally in coniferous forests, middle to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum munitum – common sword fern, western fern
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Mexico, east to Montana, and disjunct in South Dakota.
Habitat: Moist coniferous woods, in open to deep shade; from sea-level to midmontane.
Origin: Native
Spores: Spores year-round on fronds
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Mexico, east to Montana, and disjunct in South Dakota.
Habitat: Moist coniferous woods, in open to deep shade; from sea-level to midmontane.
Origin: Native
Spores: Spores year-round on fronds
Growth Duration: Perennial
Polystichum scopulinum – mountain holly fern, rock sword fern
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Open slopes, typically associated with rock outcroppings and crevices; tolerant of serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Open slopes, typically associated with rock outcroppings and crevices; tolerant of serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
