Cryptogramma cascadensis

Cascade parsley fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

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.

Habitat: Generally +- moist talus slopes, crevices, often granitic or volcanic rock

Elevation: 1800-3650 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH, SNH, Wrn

California counties: Tuolumne, Trinity, Tulare, Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Fresno, Mono, El Dorado, Amador, Plumas, Tehama, Modoc

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