Physematium scopulinum

{{Short description|Species of fern}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Woodsia scopulina.jpg

| status = {{TNCStatus}}

| status_system = TNC

| status_ref = {{cite NatureServe |id=2.807064 |title=Woodsia scopulina |date=November 1, 2024 |access-date=November 17, 2024}}

| genus = Physematium

| species = scopulinum

| authority = Trevis.

|synonyms_ref = {{Cite WF |taxon=Physematium scopulinum |access-date=13 June 2023}}

|synonyms = {{Species list

| Woodsia obtusa f. nana | (Lemmon ex Gilbert) Clute

| Woodsia obtusa var. lyallii | Hook.

| Woodsia obtusa var. nana | Lemmon ex Gilbert

| Woodsia oregana var. lyallii | (Hook.) B.Boivin

| Woodsia scopulina | D.C.Eaton

| Woodsia scopulina f. nana | (Lemmon) M.Broun

| Woodsiopsis scopulina | (D.C.Eaton) Shmakov

}}

}}

Physematium scopulinum, also called Woodsia scopulina, is a deciduous perennial fern in the family Woodsiaceae, with the common name Rocky Mountain woodsia.

This plant is native to the western and northern United States and Canada. W. scopulina is a small to medium sized fern, 10-30 centimeters high, which grows in mesic to dry rock crevices.Dale H. Witt, Janet E. Marsh, and Robin B. Bovey, Mosses Lichens and Ferns of Northwest North America (Edmonton: Lone Pine, 1988), p. 273[https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Woodsia%20scopulina Burke Herbarium Image Collection, Chaenactis thompsonii]

Description

Physematium scopulinum has twice pinnate fronds arising from a short scaly rhizome. The mostly upright fronds are 10–30 cm in length and up to 8 cm in width and are medium to pale green in color. The pinnae and rachis are sparsely to moderately covered with long hairs that protrude sharply (not appressed to stem), some with a globular gland at the tip. The hairy rachis distinguishes it from the similar species Physematium oreganum. The rachis is grooved on top (adaxially). Small round sori on the underside of pinnae are initially partly covered with a narrowly lobed indusium. New leaves show circinate vernation (tightly curled).{{cite book |last1=Hitchcock |first1=C. Leo |author-link1=Charles Leo Hitchcock |last2=Cronquist |first2=Arthur |author-link2=Arthur Cronquist |editor-last1=Giblin |editor-first1=David |editor-last2=Legler |editor-first2= Ben |editor-last3=Zika |editor-first3=Peter F. |editor-last4=Olmstead |editor-first4=Richard G. |date=2018 |title=Flora of the Pacific Northwest |language=en |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/194/monograph/book/81742 |url-access=subscription |edition=Second |location=Seattle, Washington |publisher=University of Washington Press |page=60 |isbn=9780295742885 |oclc=1027726040}}

Range

Physematium scopulinum is widespread in mountains near the west coast of North America from southern Alaska to southern California, and in the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to Colorado. There are also isolated populations in northeastern North America.

Habitat

Physematium scopulinum is commonly found in sunny rocky habitats including rock crevices, talus slopes, and rock ledges.

Gallery

Image:Woodsia scopulina JHT1.jpg|Leafing out in spring

Image:Woodsia scopulina JHT2.jpg|Growing among talus rock

Image:Woodsia scopulina JHT iNat-222453096.jpg|Underside of leaf

References

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