Myriopteris wootonii
Wooton's lip fern, Wooton's Lip Fern
(c) Andrew Tree, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pteridaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Myriopteris wootonii (Wooton's lip fern) is a native California herb in the Pteridaceae family, recognized by long-creeping rhizome and ciliate scales without hairs.
Wooton's lip fern is a California native perennial found in the Providence and New York Mountains in the desert mountain region on rocky outcrops at elevations of 1,600 to 1,800 meters. With a long-creeping rhizome, this delicate fern features fronds 10 to 20 centimeters long and 2 to 3 centimeters wide, divided into multiple intricate pinnate segments. Growing with a slender stipe only 1 to 2 millimeters wide, the fern has small, approximately round leaf segments that are densely covered with ciliate, lance-linear scales on the underside. Its leaf segments are distinctively concave on the abaxial surface, creating a unique textural landscape of overlapping scales that partially obscure the sporangia. The fern's tan to brown rhizome scales contribute to its subtle, earthy appearance in its rocky desert mountain habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are long-creeping rhizome and ciliate scales without hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky outcrops
Elevation: 1600-1800 m
Outside California: to western Oklahoma, northern Mexico
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 wootonii native to California?
Yes. Myriopteris wootonii is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Myriopteris wootonii belong to?
Myriopteris wootonii is in the Pteridaceae family, genus Myriopteris.
Is Myriopteris wootonii rare or endangered?
Myriopteris wootonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Myriopteris wootonii grow in?
Myriopteris wootonii grows in Rocky outcrops.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Myriopteris clevelandii — Cleveland's lip fern
- Myriopteris cooperae — Cooper's lip fern
- Myriopteris covillei — Coville's lip fern
- Myriopteris gracilis — Slender lip fern
- Myriopteris gracillima — Lace lip fern
- Myriopteris intertexta — Coastal lip fern
- Notholaena californica — California cloak-fern
- Notholaena sp.
- Pellaea andromedifolia — Coffee fern
- Pellaea brachyptera — Sierra cliff-brake
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.