Woodsia plummerae
Plummer's woodsia, Plummer's Woodsia
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Woodsiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Woodsia plummerae (Plummer's woodsia) is a native California herb in the Woodsiaceae family, recognized by blunt, sometimes forked leaf tips.
Plummer's woodsia is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in desert mountains in rocky crevices and rock bases at elevations of 1,600 to 2,000 meters. The fern has delicate fronds less than 25 centimeters long with pinnae that are pinnately lobed and less than 3 centimeters wide, often featuring blunt or sometimes forked tips. Growing with slender, pale green stems, this woodsia has intricately structured leaves with pinnae that are toothed or shallowly lobed along their margins. Its leaf axes are characterized by sparse, short cylindrical hairs approximately 0.1 millimeters long, giving the fronds a subtle textural quality. The sporangia are distinctive, with indusia composed of scale-like fragments or lobes that may end in delicate hair-like structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by blunt, sometimes forked leaf tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Crevices, rock bases
Elevation: 1600-2000 m
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 plummerae native to California?
Yes. Woodsia plummerae is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Woodsia plummerae belong to?
Woodsia plummerae is in the Woodsiaceae family, genus Woodsia.
Is Woodsia plummerae rare or endangered?
Woodsia plummerae carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Woodsia plummerae grow in?
Woodsia plummerae grows in Crevices, rock bases.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.