Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and scattered areas in eastern North America.

Habitat: Rock crevices, ledges and talus slopes in the mountains, and in less arid parts of the lowlands.

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Tufted perennial from a short scaly rhizome.

All basal, 2-3 times pinnate, 8-35 cm long, covered with white hairs.

Grouped into small round sori on undersides of leaves; indusia with narrow lobed segments.

The hairy leaves and narrowly lobed indusia separate this species from W. oregana, which has glabrous leaves and indusia with hair-like segments, and Cystopteris fragilis, which has glabrous leaves and a hood-like indusia partially covering the sori.