Cystopteris laurentiana — Laurentian fragile fern
![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/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-ld-mrosenthal.jpg)
![Plant form: Cystopteris laurentiana. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/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/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-le-ahaines-b.jpg)
![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/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/cystopteris-laurentiana-so-crothfels1.jpg)
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Facts
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
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.
enlargeCharacteristics
- 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
In New England
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)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
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.
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