Myriopteris gracillima
Lace lip fern, Lace Lip Fern
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Myriopteris gracillima (Lace lip fern) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by narrow blade shape and deeply dissected scales.
Lace lip fern is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, and Great Basin regions in granite cliffs and rocky crevices at elevations of 400 to 3,200 meters. Its delicate fronds are dark green, 6 to 18 centimeters long and 1 to 2 centimeters wide, with a distinctive lacy appearance created by finely dissected segments. Growing with a short-creeping rhizome, the fern produces slender stems with light brown scales that have a dark or sometimes reddish-brown midstripe. The fern's leaves are 2 to 3 times pinnate, with tiny rounded to oblong segments densely covered in long, deeply dissected scales that give it an intricate, almost lacelike texture. Its segments are characteristically concave on the underside, with margins recurved and adorned with elaborate, long-ciliate scales.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are narrow blade shape and deeply dissected scales
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally granite cliffs, crevices
Elevation: 400-3200 m
California counties: Marin, Calaveras, Shasta, Mariposa, Tulare, Tuolumne, Plumas, Siskiyou, Monterey, Sierra, Nevada, Butte, Del Norte, Madera, Placer, El Dorado
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Utah
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 gracillima native to California?
Yes. Myriopteris gracillima is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Myriopteris gracillima grow?
Myriopteris gracillima occurs in Marin, Calaveras, Shasta, Mariposa, Tulare, Tuolumne, Plumas, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 400-3200 m.
What plant family does Myriopteris gracillima belong to?
Myriopteris gracillima is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Myriopteris.
What habitat does Myriopteris gracillima grow in?
Myriopteris gracillima grows in Generally granite cliffs, 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.