California Polypody (Polypodium californicum) Login         


        Description
  • Height to 2 ft.
  • This distinctive fern has long, undivided, wavy fingers.
  • It often grows directly on rocks, rather than in broken-up soil.
  • Stems are light brown.
  • Found in shaded woodlands and on north-facing slopes, generally near water.
  • CA native. Found only in the western US.
  • Polypody Family (Polypodiaceae)



Frond segments are wavy and slightly serrated. Unlike most ferns, one segment connects to the next near the midrib.



Oval sori, full of tiny spores, line up on the underside in two rows. Leaflet margins are slightly rough, or serrated.


Grows on moist, rocky, shady banks, often near water.

   Photo Gallery (25 ) click any picture to enlarge
    

California Polypody is primarily found near the California coast. Fronds are a rich green, leathery and erect. They'll die back during the dry mon ...
California Polypody does well in shady road cuts, along trail banks, and rocky slopes, near water.
It often grows directly on rocks. It spreads by shallow underground roots (rhizomes), and by dropping spores from its leaves.
Leaflets are not entirely separate from each other - they run into their neighbor near the [[midrib]]. This fern is once-divided, since each leafle ...
Yellow [[sori]] make two lines along each leaflet. Each roundish pile contains thousands of spores.
This top view shows that the [[sori]] on the underside are indented into the leaflets.