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Photo is of parent taxon
Photo is of parent taxon

mountain cliff fern, mountain fern, Rocky Mountain cliff fern, Rocky Mountain woodsia

Pinnae

with longest hairs composed of 5–8 cells.

with longest hairs composed of 2–5 cells.

Spores

averaging 39–46 µm. 2n = 76.

averaging 42–50 µm. 2n = 76.

Scales

of stems and petiole bases mostly bicolored with broad, usually continuous, dark central stripe, scales narrowly lanceolate.

of stems and petiole bases usually concolored or with a few isolated, dark, occluded cells, scales ovate-lanceolate.

Indusial

segments broad, not at all filamentous.

segments narrow, often filamentous distally.

Woodsia scopulina subsp. appalachiana

Woodsia scopulina subsp. scopulina

Phenology Sporulating summer–fall. Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat Shaded cracks and ledges on cliffs, mostly subacidic shale and sandstone Cliffs and rocky slopes, found on variety of substrates including both granite and limestone
Elevation 300–1700 m (1000–5600 ft) 100–4000 m (300–13100 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; KY; NC; TN; VA; WV
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; SK; YT
Discussion

Woodsia scopulina subsp. scopulina is known to hybridize with subsp. laurentiana at localities where the two grow in close proximity. The resultant triploids have malformed spores and appear to be sterile.

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

Source FNA vol. 2. FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Dryopteridaceae > Woodsia > Woodsia scopulina Dryopteridaceae > Woodsia > Woodsia scopulina
Sibling taxa
W. scopulina subsp. laurentiana, W. scopulina subsp. scopulina
W. scopulina subsp. appalachiana, W. scopulina subsp. laurentiana
Synonyms W. appalachiana, W. scopulina var. appalachiana
Name authority (T. M. C. Taylor) Windham: Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 19: 58. (1993) D. C. Eaton
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