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Cystopteris fragilis

(L.) Bernh.

Fragile Fern

G5Secure Found in 314 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133463
Element CodePPDRY07030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyCystopteridaceae
GenusCystopteris
Synonyms
Filix fragilis(L.) Underw.Polypodium fragileL.
Other Common Names
brittle bladderfern (EN) Brittle Bladderfern (EN) Cystoptère fragile (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.
Taxonomic Comments
This species is "a polymorphic and complex taxon that probably contains a number of natural, cryptic evolutionary units" and hybridizes with sympatric species, including C. laurentiana, C. reevesiana, and C. tenuis (FNA 1993, vol. 2). Rothfels et al. (2014) demonstrated that this species appears to be an allopolyploid complex with many diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid entities requiring additional study and taxonomic recognition. This species is included in a synopsis of the genus (Shmakov et al. 2018), and the generic placement of this taxon, in Cystopteris, is in accordance with the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (2016).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-05-16
Change Date1984-04-05
Ecology & Habitat
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
Rhode IslandS3Yes
VermontS4Yes
IllinoisSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
NevadaS4Yes
MichiganSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
IdahoSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
UtahSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
OhioSHYes
North DakotaSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
WyomingS5Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
New YorkS4Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
KansasSNRYes
HawaiiSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
North CarolinaS1Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Nova ScotiaS4Yes
OntarioS4Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
QuebecS5Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
Yukon TerritoryS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
New BrunswickS4Yes
LabradorS3Yes
ManitobaS4Yes
NunavutS5Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (314)
Alaska (25)
AreaForestAcres
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
HyderTongass National Forest121,723
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
LindenbergTongass National Forest25,855
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
California (81)
AreaForestAcres
Bald RockPlumas National Forest4,675
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Butt Mtn.Lassen National Forest8,217
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Cow CreekSix Rivers National Forest1,271
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cub CreekLassen National Forest8,643
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Fawn LakeEldorado National Forest1,153
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hat Mtn.Modoc National Forest9,478
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,155
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
MayfieldLassen National Forest14,444
Mokelumne - CharityHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest202
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
PowleyModoc National Forest6,268
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
SoldierModoc National Forest10,102
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
Colorado (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Idaho (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
SeceshPayette National Forest248,088
Minnesota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Cabin CreekSuperior National Forest6,071
Montana (38)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
BeartoothGallatin National Forest5,285
Big BaldyLewis and Clark National Forest43,135
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Flagstaff Mountain #690Kootenai National Forest11,114
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Grassy MountainHelena National Forest6,740
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Jerico MountainHelena National Forest8,445
Lazyman GulchHelena National Forest11,614
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Nevada MountainHelena National Forest50,135
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
ReefGallatin National Forest2,500
Saddle Mountain #168Kootenai National Forest14,675
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Sheep Mountain - StatelineLolo National Forest37,844
Sundance RidgeLolo National Forest7,558
Teepee - Spring CreekLolo National Forest13,902
Tenderfoot - Deep CreekLewis and Clark National Forest85,614
Trout CreekKootenai National Forest30,851
Ward EagleLolo National Forest8,556
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Nevada (13)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - MarshHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,164
Ruby - Secret Pk.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,749
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
New Mexico (9)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Canada Bonito RNASanta Fe National Forest487
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
Guaje CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,104
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Collar / Bennett - CottonwoodDakota Prairie Grasslands19,697
Oregon (24)
AreaForestAcres
Badger CreekMt. Hood National Forest847
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
Devil's GardenWinema National Forest512
Drake - McdowellFremont National Forest5,767
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HuckleberryWallowa-Whitman National Forest11,238
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Mcclellan MountainMalheur National Forest21,213
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Myrtle SilviesMalheur National Forest11,679
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest9,074
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
Upper Catherine CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,446
Walla Walla RiverUmatilla National Forest34,416
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Utah (32)
AreaForestAcres
0401014Ashley National Forest26,903
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Boulger - Black CanyonManti-Lasal National Forest23,286
GibsonWasatch-Cache National Forest5,350
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest17,690
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Muddy Creek - Nelson Mt.Manti-Lasal National Forest59,034
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Swan Creek MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest9,390
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest24,081
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
Upper South ForkWasatch-Cache National Forest16,811
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (49)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
BourbonGifford Pinchot National Forest4,512
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
HoodooColville National Forest7,142
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Lion RockWenatchee National Forest4,692
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
ManastashWenatchee National Forest11,155
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
NaneumWenatchee National Forest4,508
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
ProfanityColville National Forest28,944
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
SpanglerUmatilla National Forest5,936
Stormy Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest32,612
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
TiffanyOkanogan National Forest22,045
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
Wenatchee CreekUmatilla National Forest15,315
Wyoming (25)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Buffalo PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest17,560
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Laramie PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest28,608
Leigh CreekBighorn National Forest19,180
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South Wyoming RangeBridger-Teton National Forest85,776
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (6)
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I. 2016. A Community-Derived Classification for Extant Lycophytes and Ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54(6): 563–603.
  4. Rothfels, C.J., A.K. Johnson, M.D. Windham, and K.M. Pryer. 2014. Low-copy nuclear data confirm rampant allopolyploidy in the Cystopteridaceae (Polypodiales). Taxon 63(5): 1026-1036.
  5. Shmakov, A.I., Batkin, A.A., and A.V. Vaganov. 2018. Synopsis of the genus <i>Cystopteris</i> Bernh. (Cystopteridaceae). Ukrainian Journal of Ecology 8(4): 290-297.
  6. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.