Myriopteris cooperae
Cooper's lip fern, Cooper's Lip Fern
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Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Myriopteris cooperae (Cooper's lip fern) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by lack of scales and visible sporangia.
Cooper's lip fern is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern California Coast, and Transverse Ranges in limestone crevices at elevations of 100 to 800 meters. This delicate fern features pale green fronds 6 to 25 centimeters long with intricate 2 to 3-pinnate segments, characterized by dense tan to red-brown scales along its short-creeping rhizome. Growing with slender stems less than 2 millimeters wide, the fern develops finely divided leaflets that are generally 1 to 3 millimeters long and approximately oblong in shape. Its fronds display sparse untangled hairs, both glandular and nonglandular, giving the plant a delicate and intricate appearance. The fern produces tan spores on submarginal sporangia, with segment margins remaining flat and unmodified.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are lack of scales and visible sporangia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally in limestone crevices
Elevation: 100-800 m
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Myriopteris is a fern with spore cases underneath; Achillea is a flowering plant with flat-topped flower clusters.; vs Cheilanthes: These are the same - Cheilanthes is the old name for what's now called Myriopteris.; vs Notholaena: Myriopteris has fuzzy hairs or scales underneath; Notholaena has a smooth waxy powder coating.; vs Pellaea: Myriopteris undersides feel fuzzy or scaly; Pellaea undersides are smooth and leathery.; vs Pentagramma: Myriopteris has fuzzy scales or hairs; Pentagramma undersides are smooth with golden/silver coating or bare.
Frequently asked questions
Is Myriopteris cooperae native to California?
Yes. Myriopteris cooperae is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Myriopteris cooperae belong to?
Myriopteris cooperae is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Myriopteris.
What habitat does Myriopteris cooperae grow in?
Myriopteris cooperae grows in Generally in limestone crevices.
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.