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Polystichum scopulinum

(D.C. Eat.) Maxon

Mountain Holly Fern

G4Apparently Secure Found in 33 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138646
Element CodePPDRY0R0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderFilicales
FamilyDryopteridaceae
GenusPolystichum
Other Common Names
Polystic des rochers (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 Date2011-11-01
Rank Reasons
Polystichum scopulinum is widely distributed west of the 110th meridian, where it occurs in sporadic, usually small populations. The species is abundant only on montane serpentine outcrops and also occurs on some acidic substrates. The populations in Newfoundland and Quebec are dramatically disjunct from those in western North America (Flora of North America volume 2).
Range Extent Comments
Que. and B.C. to CA, east to w. MT and UT; Que. Peripheral.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Mountain Holly-fern has evergreen fronds that are 10-40 cm long, and clustered on a short, stout, scaly rhizome. The blades are made up of 20-40 primary pinnae on each side of the rachis. The primary pinnae are 1.5-3.2 mm long, and pinnately lobed with large basal lobes. Above the basal lobes, the pinnae are 1/3 to 1/2 as wide as long, and the lobes become progressively more shallow-cut and tooth-like. The lobes or teeth are inconspicuously sharp-tipped, and the apical tooth is larger than those nearest it. Circular clusters of sporangia borne on the undersides of the middle and upper
pinnae are covered by indusia.

Habitat

Rock crevices and at base of boulders, serpentine to acidic substrates, usually exposed to full sun (FNA vol. 2, 1993).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS1Yes
NevadaS2Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ArizonaS2Yes
ColoradoS1Yes
UtahS2Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
WyomingS1Yes
IdahoSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS1Yes
Island of NewfoundlandSHYes
QuebecS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (33)
California (23)
AreaForestAcres
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Dennison PeakSequoia National Forest6,293
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
JohnsonKlamath National Forest10,652
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
SoldierModoc National Forest10,102
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
Oregon (4)
AreaForestAcres
Greenhorn MountainMalheur National Forest15,936
Greenhorn Mtn.Umatilla National Forest11,191
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Utah (3)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
Washington (2)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
References (4)
  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. Lackschewitz, K. H. 1976. Montana mountain flora: new records. Madrono 23:360-362.
  4. Lackschewitz, K., P. Lesica and J. S. Shelly. 1988. Noteworthy collections: Montana. Madrono 35:355-358.