Aspidotis densa

Dense lace fern, Dense Lace Fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Dense lace fern is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, central western California, and Peninsular Ranges on slopes, crevices, and rocky outcrops, especially serpentine areas at elevations of 100 to 3,400 meters. This fern features deeply dissected, leathery fronds (2)3-pinnate and 15 to 20 centimeters long, with distinctive linear segments arranged in intricate lace-like patterns. Growing with complex, multi-layered fronds that have subtle differences between fertile and sterile leaves, the plant develops a compact, intricate growth form. Its pinnae are pinnately dissected with narrow, almost entire linear segments that create a delicate, textured appearance. The fern's sporangia form continuous false indusia along segment midveins with many shallow, regular teeth, giving it a unique textural quality.

Habitat: Slopes, crevices, outcrops, especially serpentine

Elevation: 100-3400 m

Bioregions: NW, CaR, SN, CW, PR

California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Sierra, Plumas, Tulare, Placer, Sonoma, Shasta, Sacramento, Butte, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Tehama, Amador, Calaveras, Yuba, Glenn, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Colusa, Alameda, Inyo, San Diego, San Benito

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