Cystopteris laurentiana — Laurentian fragile fern
![Sori: Cystopteris laurentiana. ~ By Carl Rothfels. ~ Copyright © 2024 Carl Rothfels. ~ crothfels[at]yahoo.ca ~ U. of Michigan Herbarium - herbarium.lsa.umich.edu/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-so-crothfels1.jpg)
![Plant form: Cystopteris laurentiana. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Leaf: Cystopteris laurentiana. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-le-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Cystopteris laurentiana. ~ By Michael Rosenthal. ~ Copyright © 2024 Michael Rosenthal. ~ michael[at]msrosenthal.com ~ msrosenthal.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-ld-mrosenthal.jpg)
Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click it to see who you will need to contact.
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeFacts
Laurentian fragile fern has a scattered distribution in northeastern North America. In New England it is found on cliffs and ledges, usually on high-pH substrate, in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Look closely for sparse glandular hairs to confirm identification of this species.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
-
- there are no special features on the leaves
- there are small bulbs on the underside of the leaf blade
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- ridges or ledges
- talus or rocky slopes
Wetland status
Not classified
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1)
- Vermont
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1)
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Cystopteris bulbifera:
- leaf blade triangular to long-triangular, bulbils frequently present, and leaf rachis usually with dense glandular hairs (vs. C. laurentiana, with leaf blade ovate to narrow-ovate, bulbils only rarely present, and leaf rachis with sparse glandular hairs).
Synonyms
- Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. var. laurentiana Weatherby
Family
Genus
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
3. Cystopteris laurentiana (Weatherby) Blasdell NC
Laurentian fragile fern. Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. var. laurentiana Weatherby • ct, MA, VT. Cliffs and ledges, usually high-pH substrate.