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Photo is of parent taxon

laurent's cliff fern, Laurentian cliff fern, Laurentian Mountain cliff fern, Laurentian woodsia

Pinnae

with longest hairs composed of 2–5 cells.

Spores

averaging 50–57 µm. 2n = 152.

Scales

of stems and petiole bases (at least some) with clusters of dark, occluded cells near center forming narrow, usually discontinuous stripe, scales ovate-lanceolate.

Indusial

segments narrow, often filamentous distally.

Woodsia scopulina subsp. laurentiana

Phenology Sporulating summer–fall.
Habitat Cliffs and rocky slopes, found on a variety of substrates including both granite and limestone
Elevation 0–3000 m (0–9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; ON; QC
Discussion

In addition to hybridizing with Woodsia scopulina subsp. scopulina (see comments above), subsp. laurentiana may have crossed with Woodsia oregana subsp. cathcartiana to form W. × maxonii R. M. Tryon. With very few collections and no biosystematic data available, however, the origin of this putative hybrid remains in doubt. Contrary to previous hypotheses (D. F. M. Brown 1964; D. B. Lellinger 1985), Great Lakes populations of W. scopulina were not involved in the origin of the local hybrid known as W. × abbeae (F. S. Wagner 1987).

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

Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Dryopteridaceae > Woodsia > Woodsia scopulina
Sibling taxa
W. scopulina subsp. appalachiana, W. scopulina subsp. scopulina
Name authority Windham: Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 19: 59. (1993)
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