E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Polystichum munitum (Kaulf.) C. Presl
sword fern (western swordfern)
Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Adolf Ceska  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #20799)

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Distribution of Polystichum munitum
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Species Information

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General:
Evergreen perennial arising from a short, stout rhizome.
Leaves:
Lanceolate, 20-150 cm long, 5-25 cm wide, 1-pinnate; pinnae oblong, all of them more or less in one plane, with spreading teeth.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to mesic forests in the lowland and montane zones; common in coastal BC, rare in SC and SE BC south of 54degreeN, rare northward; N to AK and S to SD, MT, ID and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Polystichum munitum

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
Site Information
 Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum
Elevation (metres) 0 229 2050
Slope Gradient (%) 0 24 220
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W] 		0 236 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		0 4 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class		 D
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:		 2644
Modal BEC Zone Class
 CWH
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: CDF(315), CWH(2153), ESSF(4), ICH(12), IDF(24), MH(18), MS(5)

Ecological Indicator Information

A shade-tolerant/intolerant, submontane to subalpine, Westem North American fern distributed more in the Pacific than the Cordilleran region. Occurs in cool mesothermal climates on nitrogen-rich soils; its occurrence decreases with increasing elevation and continentality. Widespread in forest understories. Persists on cutover sites, sporadic to scattered on water-shedding sites, plentiful to abundant (frequently dominant) on water­receiving and colluvial sites enriched by surface flow of fine organic materials. Commonly associated with Achlys triphylla, Mahonia nervosa, and Tiarella trifoliata. A nitrophytic species characteristic of Moder and Mull humus forms.

Source:  Indicator Plants of Coastal British Columbia (Information applies to coastal locations only)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is cool mesothermal.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Polystichum munitum var. incisoserratum (D.C. Eaton) Underw.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Flora North America treatment for Dryopteridaceae
 Flora North America treatment for Polystichum munitum
Genetic information (NCBI Taxonomy Database)
 International Plant Names Index
 Taxonomic Information from the World Flora Online
 Integrated Taxonomic Information System

Additional Photo Sources

Images From CalPhoto
UT Austin's Native Plant Database
 Google Image Search
 Flickr Image Search

General References

Google Scholar Search
Family References
 General Botanical References for BC
Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2024-05-08 10:13:53 PM ]
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