Cryptogramma cascadensis
Cascade parsley fern
(c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy McNitt · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cryptogramma cascadensis (Cascade parsley fern) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by key differences are frond color and moisture preferences, plus substrate specificity.
Cascade parsley fern is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Warner Mountains on generally moist talus slopes and rocky crevices at elevations of 1,800 to 3,650 meters. This fern lacks flowering details, characterized by its distinctive rhizomatous growth forming small to large clumps. Growing with delicate fronds 3 to 25 centimeters tall, it develops both fertile and sterile leaves with lance-ovate to triangular green blades. Its leaves are notably varied, with fertile fronds reaching up to 25 centimeters and sterile fronds around 3 to 20 centimeters long, creating a dense, textured appearance. The plant thrives particularly well on granitic or volcanic rock surfaces, showcasing its adaptation to alpine and subalpine rocky environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are frond color and moisture preferences, plus substrate specificity
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally +- moist talus slopes, crevices, often granitic or volcanic rock
Elevation: 1800-3650 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Trinity, Tulare, Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Fresno, Mono, El Dorado, Amador, Plumas, Tehama, Modoc
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
How to tell it apart
vs Aspidotis: Cryptogramma has strongly dimorphic fronds (broad sterile vs narrow fertile); Aspidotis (lace fern) fronds are all alike, finely dissected with sharply pointed segments.; vs Pellaea: Cryptogramma has thin, bright-green, parsley-like blades; Pellaea (cliffbrake) has thick, leathery, blue-gray pinnae on wiry dark stalks.; vs Pentagramma: Cryptogramma segments have inrolled margins hiding the sporangia and no powder beneath; Pentagramma (goldback fern) has flat blades coated below with yellow or white waxy farina.; vs Myriopteris: Cryptogramma is glabrous and green with rolled fertile margins; Myriopteris lip ferns are densely hairy or scaly and bead-like beneath.; vs Cystopteris: Cryptogramma has two frond types and rolled marginal false indusia; Cystopteris (fragile fern) has uniform fronds with a hood-like indusium attached beside each sorus.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cryptogramma cascadensis native to California?
Yes. Cryptogramma cascadensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Cryptogramma cascadensis grow?
Cryptogramma cascadensis occurs in Tuolumne, Trinity, Tulare, Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Fresno, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1800-3650 m.
What plant family does Cryptogramma cascadensis belong to?
Cryptogramma cascadensis is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Cryptogramma.
What habitat does Cryptogramma cascadensis grow in?
Cryptogramma cascadensis grows in Generally +- moist talus slopes, crevices, often granitic or volcanic rock.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.