Woodwardia sp.
Chain fern, Chain Fern
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Blechnaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Woodwardia sp. (Chain fern) is a native California perennial in the Blechnaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Athyrium: Woodwardia has oblong spore clusters in chain-like rows; lady ferns have curved, J-shaped or horseshoe-shaped spore clusters.; vs Pteridium: Woodwardia spore clusters are in neat chain-like rows on frond undersides; bracken has continuous lines under rolled leaf edges.; vs Dryopteris: Woodwardia has elongated spore clusters in parallel rows; wood ferns have scattered round to kidney-shaped spore covers.; vs Polystichum: Woodwardia has smooth fronds with chain-like spore rows; sword ferns have prickly fronds with shield-shaped spore covers.; vs Polypodium: Woodwardia has elongated spore clusters in organized rows; polypody has round naked spore dots scattered irregularly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Woodwardia sp. native to California?
Yes. Woodwardia sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Woodwardia sp. belong to?
Woodwardia sp. is in the Blechnaceae family, genus Woodwardia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.