Polystichum
holly-fern, sword-fern
14 species
1 subspecies and varieties
1 subspecies and varieties
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Polystichum andersonii – Anderson's sword fern, Vancouver holly fern
Distribution: Southern Alaska south to northern Oregon, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana; also in the Olympic Mountains of Washington.
Habitat: Deep woods and thickets in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Southern Alaska south to northern Oregon, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana; also in the Olympic Mountains of Washington.
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
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
Polystichum californicum – California sword fern
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia south to California.
Habitat: Moist forest understory at low elevations, typically in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia south to California.
Habitat: Moist forest understory at low elevations, typically in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: perennial
Polystichum imbricans – imbricate sword-fern, rock sword-fern
Distribution: Cascades of central Washington south to California, and in the Olympics; sometimes on serpentine
Habitat: Dry, rocky places, open areas and open woods, at mid-elevations
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Cascades of central Washington south to California, and in the Olympics; sometimes on serpentine
Habitat: Dry, rocky places, open areas and open woods, at mid-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; British Columbia south 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; British Columbia south 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 in the northern half of Washington, particularly common in the Wenatchee Mountains; southern British Columbia, northern Washington, disjunct in the Wallowa Mts., and in southwestern Oregon and 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 in the northern half of Washington, particularly common in the Wenatchee Mountains; southern British Columbia, northern Washington, disjunct in the Wallowa Mts., and in southwestern Oregon and 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: In forested areas on both sides 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: In forested areas on both sides 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 south to California, east to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
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 south to California, east to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
Habitat: Open slopes, typically associated with rock outcroppings and crevices; tolerant of serpentine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: perennial
