Woodsia alpina (Bolton) Gray
alpine cliff fern (alpine woodsia)
Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Alfred Cook     (Photo ID #26625)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Woodsia alpina
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Deciduous perennial arising in clusters from a short rhizome.
Leaves:
Narrowly lanceolate, 3-20 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, 2-pinnate, stipes jointed, rachis with scattered hairs and scales; ultimate segments fan-like, with shallow teeth towards the tips.
Notes:
Plants of W. alpina resemble diminutive plants of Cystopteris fragilis.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Woodsia alpina

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

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 1503 1099 1740
Slope Gradient (%)
 47 35 57

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 225 190 260
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		1 0 2
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 3
Modal BEC Zone Class
 BAFA

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BAFA(2), IDF(1)

Habitat and Range

Moist calcareous rocks in the montane and subalpine zones; rare in N BC; circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to ME, NY, MI and MN; Eurasia.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Woodsia alpina var. bellii G. Lawson
Woodsia glabella var. bellii (Lawson) Lawson

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