Cystopteris sp.
Fragile fern, Fragile Fern
Family: Cystopteridaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Cystopteris sp. (Fragile fern) is a native California perennial in the Cystopteridaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Athyrium: Cystopteris is delicate and under 1 foot; Athyrium is robust and 1-5 feet with thick stems.; vs Woodsia: Cystopteris has hood-shaped spore covers and smooth leaf axes; Woodsia has star-shaped hairs underneath and on axes.; vs Polystichum: Cystopteris leaflets are asymmetric with no spiny tips; Polystichum leaflets are symmetric with sharp spiny points.; vs Dryopteris: Cystopteris has hood-shaped covers and smooth axes; Dryopteris has kidney-shaped covers and often glandular axes.; vs Phacelia: Cystopteris is a fern with spores underneath; Phacelia is a flowering plant with coiled flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cystopteris sp. native to California?
Yes. Cystopteris sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Cystopteris sp. belong to?
Cystopteris sp. is in the Cystopteridaceae family, genus Cystopteris.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.