Adiantum shastense

Shasta maidenhair, Shasta Maidenhair, Shasta maidenhair fern, Shasta maidenhair fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Shasta maidenhair is a California native perennial fern found in the Klamath Ranges in shaded forests, rocky or moist banks with northern or eastern exposures at elevations below 1,600 meters. Its delicate fronds feature red-brown to nearly black stalks with intricate 2 to 3-pinnate blades extending 30 to 60 centimeters long. The fern's pinnules have distinctive asymmetrical margins, with sterile segments more deeply incised than fertile segments. Its leaves display complex architectural structure, with pinnules occasionally cut less than one-quarter way to the base and arranged with base angles between 90 and 135 degrees. Small yellowish sporangia clusters appear on the undersides of the pinnules, adding delicate texture to this elegant woodland fern.

Habitat: Shaded forests, rocky or moist banks, northern or eastern exposures

Elevation: < 1600 m

Bioregions: KR.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.