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.
Publication: Canad. Naturalist & Quart. J. Sci. 2: 91. 1865.
- ssp. laurentiana – Laurentian cliff fern Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
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ssp. scopulina – Rocky Mountain cliff fern, mountain fern
Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Woodsia scopulina in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Woodsia scopulina checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Woodsia scopulina information.
E-Flora BC: Woodsia scopulina atlas page.
CalPhotos: Woodsia scopulina photos.
USDA Plants: Woodsia scopulina information.
