Checklist » Cystopteridaceae » Cystopteris fragilis
Last updated 5/20/2023 by David Giblin.
Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.[FNA2, HC, HC2]
bladder fern, brittle fern, fragile fern

Publication: Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 26, plate 2, fig. 9. 1806.

Origin: Native

selected vouchers: WTU

Notes: FNA2: "Especially in the western portion of its North American range (British Columbia, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California), Cystopteris fragilis appears to be developing morphologically and ecologically distinctive variants. Hybrid individuals with aborted spores have been discovered, and plants from these areas increasingly tend to grow on both soil and rock and to have slightly different morphologies on the two substrates. These variants intergrade, however, and are not sufficiently distinct to warrant species status. This polymorphic polyploid is probably actively speciating at the tetraploid level, perhaps through gene silencing (C. R. Werth and M. D. Windham 1991)."

References: (none)

Synonyms & Misapplied Names:
Cystopteris dickieana Sim
Polypodium fragile L.