Polystichum setigerum

Considered a hybrid between P. braunii and P. munitum by Lellinger, 1985. Recognized as a distinct species by Kartesz, 1994 checklist, and by Ceska in Douglas, 1992. D. Wagner (who was the first to propose its origins as a stabilized hybrid of P. munitum and P. braunii in 1979) accepts it at rank of species (1979 and 1993 in FNA vol. 2).

Restricted to coastal British Columbia and southeastern Alaska; disjunct on Attu Island at the western tip of the Aleutian Archipelago. At least 25 occurrences have been documented, and additional occurrences likely exist on the north coast of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Inventory data is incomplete and some collections may have been overlooked due to confusion in identification. No major threats are known at this time in either BC or Alaska, although further threat analysis is needed. There is the potential for disturbance from logging acitivities, but the species may have some ability to persist through such disturbance, at least initially.

Restricted to coastal northwest British Columbia and southeastern Alaska (Douglas et al. 1991). Also disjunct on Attu Island at the western tip of the Aleutian Archipelago (FNA 1993).

The number of element occurrences in British Columbia is estimated to be 6-20. Five extant occurrences are currently known , however, there is poor inventory data throughout the range suggesting uncertainty in number of EOs (J. Penny, pers. comm. 2006). It almost certainly occurs in numerous undiscovered locations on BC's north coast (P. Williston, pers. comm. 2006). Furthermore, it may be overlooked in the collections as it may be confused with P. braunii. At least twenty occurrences are known in southeastern Alaska, some of which have been recently discovered (R. Lipkin, pers. comm. 2006).

In British Columbia, there is no evidence that this species is threatened in its remote habitats on the North coast and Queen Charlotte Islands but it could potentially be disturbed by logging activities (J. Penny, pers. comm. 2006). In Alaska, occurrences have been recorded in blow-down areas and in a recently-logged units suggesting some ability to persist through some disturbance, at least initially. A threat analysis is needed in BC. There are no documented threats to Alaska occurrences at this time, although logging activities could certainly pose a threat (R. Lipkin, pers. comm. 2006).