Woodsia oregana
Cliff fern
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Family: Woodsiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Woodsia oregana (Cliff fern) is a native California herb in the Woodsiaceae family, recognized by acute unforked leaf tips and short glandular hairs.
Cliff fern is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Mojave Desert Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in rocky crevices and rock bases at elevations of 900 to 2,800 meters. This delicate fern features finely divided fronds 5 to 25 centimeters long with pinnately lobed leaflets up to 2.5 centimeters wide. Growing with a compact, clustered habit, the fern produces slender stems with pale green to gray-green foliage. Its pinnae have fine-toothed margins and acute tips, with minimal hair-like structures on the leaf axes. The fern's unique indusium is characterized by segmented protective hairs covering its reproductive structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by acute unforked leaf tips and short glandular hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Crevices, rock bases
Elevation: 900-2800 m
California counties: Riverside, Sierra, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, San Bernardino, Kern, Amador, Tuolumne, Shasta, Tulare, Fresno, Siskiyou, Plumas, Lassen, El Dorado, Madera
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern Canada, northern United States, Oklahoma, Arizona
How to tell it apart
vs Cystopteris: Woodsia has symmetrical pinnae and cup-like indusia; Cystopteris has hood-like indusia and tapered pinnae tips.; vs Phacelia: Woodsia is a fern with spores underneath; Phacelia is a flowering plant with coiled flower clusters.; vs Athyrium: Woodsia has round sori with cup-like indusia; Athyrium has elongated, curved sori along veins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Woodsia oregana native to California?
Yes. Woodsia oregana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Woodsia oregana grow?
Woodsia oregana occurs in Riverside, Sierra, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, San Bernardino, Kern, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 900-2800 m.
What plant family does Woodsia oregana belong to?
Woodsia oregana is in the Woodsiaceae family, genus Woodsia.
What habitat does Woodsia oregana grow in?
Woodsia oregana grows in Crevices, rock bases.
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.