Pentagramma viscosa

Coastal silverback fern, Coastal Silverback Fern

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Coastal silverback fern is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal and Channel Islands regions in generally shaded, wooded or grassy slopes near the coast at elevations below 850 meters. Flowering time not specified, this fern has distinctive silvery-green fronds with pinnae that feature dense glandular surfaces, creating a sticky texture. Growing with a rhizomatous root system, the fern produces fronds with proximal pinnae 2 to 5 centimeters long and delicate pinnule margins that are slightly recurved at the tips. Its leaf blades are characteristically sticky, covered with dense glands that give the plant a distinctive appearance and texture. The fern's unique glandular surface and coastal habitat make it a notable species in its native ranges.

Habitat: Generally shaded, wooded or grassy slopes in proximity to coast

Elevation: < 850 m

Bioregions: SCo, ChI

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.