Polystichum lemmonii

Lemmon's hollyfern

Family: Dryopteridaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Lemmon's hollyfern is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,200 to 2,600 meters in serpentine areas, rocky streambeds, and rocky ledges. This fern produces narrow-lanceolate fronds 15 to 40 centimeters long with a distinctive pinnate structure. Growing with delicate, finely divided leaflets generally 1 to 3 centimeters long, it has a stipe (leaf stem) that comprises approximately one-quarter to one-third of the blade's total length. Its fronds feature base scales approximately 2 millimeters wide, predominantly lance-linear in shape, with pinnae that have subtle teeth without pronounced bristle-like tips. The fern's compact growth and intricate leaf structure make it well-adapted to rocky, serpentine habitats in California's mountainous regions.

Habitat: Serpentine, rocks, ledges, rocky streambeds

Elevation: 1200-2600 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoRH, CaRH, n SNH

California counties: Siskiyou, Plumas, Shasta, Trinity, Contra Costa, Placer, Butte, Tehama, Del Norte, Santa Clara

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