FNA: Woodsia vs. Woodsia alpina

Phenology

Sporulating summer–early fall.

Habitat

Crevices and ledges on cliffs (occasionally on rocky slopes), mostly slaty and calcareous rocks

Elevation

0–1500 m (0–4900 ft)

Distribution

Mostly north temperate regions and higher elevations in the tropics

[BONAP county map]

AK; ME; MI; MN; NH; NY; VT; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; NT; ON; QC; SK; YT; Greenland; n Eurasia

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Woodsia is a well-marked genus; its morphology and chromosome base number (x = 41) provide evidence of relationships to the dryopteroid ferns. Most authors consider Cystopteris to be its closest ally, and the two genera are often confused in herbarium collections. The resemblance is superficial in many ways, however, and Woodsia is easily distinguished from Cystopteris by its persistent petiole bases, multilobed indusia, and obscure veins that end in hydathodes before reaching the leaf margin. The North American species of Woodsia fall into two natural groups that might be recognized as subgenera. Woodsia ilvensis, W. glabella, and W. alpina have articulate petioles, indusial segments that are uniseriate throughout and composed of cells that are much longer than wide, entire or crenate pinnules, strictly concolored stem scales, and chromosome base numbers of 39–41. They are circumboreal in distribution and show clear affinities to species found only in Eurasia. The remainder of the North American taxa have petioles that are not articulate, indusial segments that are multiseriate at the base and composed of cells that are isodiametric or slightly longer than wide, dentate pinnules, often bicolored stem scales, and a chromosome base number of 38. All of these species are endemic to the New World and probably represent a distinct lineage within the genus. Hybridization is common within these natural groups, but intergroup hybrids are relatively rare.

Species ca. 30 (10 in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Isozyme studies confirm the longstanding hypothesis that Woodsia alpina is an allotetraploid derived from hybridization between W. glabella and W. ilvensis (see reticulogram). Considerable disagreement exists concerning the chromosome number of W. alpina, but 2n = 160 seems most likely, given the numbers reported for the two parental species. Hybrids between W. alpina and W. ilvensis have been reported from both Europe and North America. These morphologically intermediate triploids with malformed spores have been called W. × gracilis (Lawson) Butters.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key

1. Blades and rachises completely glabrous except for occasional sessile glands; proximal pinnae distinctly fan-shaped, usually wider than long; leaves 0.5-1.2 cm wide, mature petioles green or straw-colored throughout.	W. glabella
1. Blades and/or rachises with scattered hairs, scales, or stalked glands, rarely glabrescent; proximal pinnae ovate-lanceolate to deltate, usually longer than wide; leaves 1.2-12 cm wide or, if less, then proximal portion of mature petioles reddish brown or dark purple.	→ 2
2. Petioles articulate well above base, abscission zone visible as swollen node; indusial segments uniseriate throughout, composed of cells that are many times longer than wide; pinnules entire or crenate, without acute teeth on margins.	→ 3
2. Petioles not articulate above base, swollen abscission zone absent; indusial segments usually multiseriate at base, composed of cells that are isodiametric or slightly longer than wide; pinnules dentate, with acute teeth on margins.	→ 4
3. Linear-lanceolate scales absent or very rare on abaxial pinnae surfaces; rachises with widely scattered hairs and scales, sometimes nearly glabrous; largest pinnae with 1-3 pairs of pinnules.	W. alpina
3. Linear-lanceolate scales common on abaxial pinnae surfaces; rachises with abundant hairs and scales; largest pinnae with 4-9 pairs of pinnules.	W. ilvensis
4. Pinnae with flattened, multicellular hairs concentrated along midrib on both surfaces; mature petioles usually reddish brown or dark purple, relatively brittle and easily shattered.	W. scopulina
4. Pinnae lacking flattened, multicellular hairs along midrib; mature petioles light brown to straw-colored or, if reddish brown/dark purple (in Woodsia plummerae and W. oregana), somewhat pliable and resistant to shattering.	→ 5
5. Indusia composed of relatively broad segments, these multiseriate for most of length but often branched or divided distally.	→ 6
5. Indusia composed of narrow, usually filamentous segments, these uniseriate for most of length.	→ 8
6. Proximal portion of mature petioles reddish brown or dark purple; blades densely glandular, often somewhat viscid; vein tips not enlarged, barely visible on adaxial surface.	W. plummerae
6. Proximal portion of mature petioles light brown or straw-colored (sometimes darker at very base); blades sparsely to moderately glandular, rarely viscid; vein tips usually enlarged to form whitish hydathodes visible on adaxial surface.	→ 7
7. Indusial segments branched or divided distally to form narrow, filamentous lobes; glandular hairs of blade with thin stalks and slightly expanded tips; pinnule margins usually thickened, lustrous on adaxial surface.	W. cochisensis
7. Indusial segments often glandular along distal edge but otherwise nearly entire, not divided into narrow, filamentous lobes; many glandular hairs of blade with thick stalks and distinctly bulbous tips; pinnule margins not noticeably thickened or lustrous.	W. obtusa
8. Pinnule margins (viewed from abaxial surface) smooth to somewhat ragged but usually lacking translucent projections or filaments; proximal portion of mature petioles reddish brown or dark purple; indusial filaments generally inconspicuous, concealed by or slightly surpassing mature sporangia.	W. oregana
8. Pinnule margins (viewed from abaxial surface) with translucent projections or filaments on teeth; proximal portion of mature petioles usually light brown or straw-colored (sometimes darker at very base); indusial filaments generally apparent, often greatly surpassing mature sporangia.	→ 9
9. Translucent projections on pinnule margins mostly 1-2-celled, occasionally filamentous; spores averaging 44-52 µm; largest pinnae divided into 3-7 pairs of closely spaced pinnules, pinna apices usually abruptly tapered to rounded.	W. neomexicana
9. Translucent projections on pinnule margins mostly multicellular, often prolonged to form twisted filaments; spores averaging 37-44 µm; largest pinnae with 7-18 pairs of discrete, widely spaced pinnules, pinna apices often attenuate to narrowly acute.	W. phillipsii