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Home/Species/ Kruckeberg's Swordfern

Polystichum kruckebergii

W.H. Wagner

Kruckeberg's Swordfern

G4Apparently Secure Found in 11 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139161
Element CodePPDRY0R0C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderFilicales
FamilyDryopteridaceae
GenusPolystichum
Other Common Names
Kruckeberg's Holly Fern (EN) Polystic de Kruckeberg (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date2011-11-01
Change Date1994-04-13
Edition Date1993-09-15
Edition AuthorsThurman, Carolyn
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
The species has a wide range but it is rare in Canada and appears to be uncommon in other states except for OR (Cody, 1989; TNC element files; Hickman, 1993). It is also listed as a state watch list in ID (Steele, et. al, 1981). ID recommending G4 during ET exchange 4/94; OR has listed as S4.
Range Extent Comments
The species ranges from C. BC to N. CA, east to ID and UT. Its known distribution in Canada is very limited (Cody, 1989). It is also found in MT, OR, and WA (TNC Element files).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

This fern has evergreen fronds that are 9-35 cm long and clustered on a short, ascending rhizome. Each frond consists of a scale-covered petiole, or stipe, that is 2-11 cm long and a narrowly lance-shaped blade, or lamina, that is 7-23 cm long and deeply lobed into 20-40 leaflets, or pinnae. Each pinna has a toothed and spiny margin, and the lower ones are lobed at the base. Spores are borne in small clusters, or sori, that are partially covered by a membranous disk, or indusium, that is located on the undersides of the upper pinnae.

Diagnostic Characteristics

This species is distinguished from the common P. LONCHITES by the lobed basal pinnae and from P. SCOPULINUM by the spiny pinnae margins.

Habitat

Subalpine cliffs and talus slopes. The species should be looked for on ultrafamic rocks (Cody, 1989). Uncommon in CA it can be found on rocks and cliffs (Hickman, 1993).
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3Yes
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS4Yes
MontanaS2Yes
CaliforniaS4Yes
AlaskaS1Yes
IdahoS2Yes
UtahS1Yes
NevadaS1Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (11)
Alaska (1)
AreaForestAcres
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Wild Cattle MtnLassen National Forest4,965
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Washington (3)
AreaForestAcres
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
References (7)
  1. Achuff, P. L. and L. S. Roe. 1992. Botanical survey of the Goat Flat proposed Research Natural Area, Deerlodge National Forest. Unpublished report to the Deerlodge National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 31 pp.
  2. Cody, W.J., and D.M. Britton. 1989. Ferns and fern allies of Canada. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. 430 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  4. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Lackschewitz, K. H. 1976. Montana mountain flora: new records. Madrono 23:360-362.
  7. Steele, B., F. Johnson, and S. Brunsfeld, eds. 1981. Vascular plant species of concern in Idaho. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, Moscow, ID. 161 pp.