Myriopteris intertexta
Coastal lip fern, Coastal Lip Fern
(c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy McNitt · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Myriopteris intertexta (Coastal lip fern) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by hooked young tips and scales barely exceeding margins.
Coastal lip fern is a California native perennial found in northern coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern coastal ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, Modoc Plateau, and White and Inyo Mountains in rock crevices and rock bases at elevations of 300 to 2,800 meters. Its dark green fronds are finely divided into delicate, small, round segments with intricate pale to red-brown scale patterns that cover the leaf undersides. Growing with a short-creeping rhizome, this fern produces fronds 6 to 14 centimeters long and 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide with distinctive hooked young leaf tips. The leaves are intricately 3-pinnate, with pale stipes less than 1 millimeter wide and lanceolate scales that are ciliate at the base. The plant's complex leaf architecture is especially characterized by its young frond tips curling in a distinctive hooked pattern, with scales that barely extend beyond the segment margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are hooked young tips and scales barely exceeding margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Crevices, bases of rocks
Elevation: 300-2800 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
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 intertexta native to California?
Yes. Myriopteris intertexta is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Myriopteris intertexta belong to?
Myriopteris intertexta is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Myriopteris.
What habitat does Myriopteris intertexta grow in?
Myriopteris intertexta grows in Crevices, bases of rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.