AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE FERNS AND FERN ALLIES (PTERIDOPHYTA) OF ALBERTA

Transcription

1 AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE FERNS AND FERN ALLIES (PTERIDOPHYTA) OF ALBERTA Compiled and written by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen April 2018 Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen

2 This key was compiled using information primarily from Moss (1983), Packer & Gould (2018), Douglas et. al. (2000) and the Flora of North America ( ). Taxonomy follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2015). Please let us know if there are ways in which the key can be improved. The families are arranged systematically. The 2017 S-ranks of rare species (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SU, according to ACIMS, 2017) are noted in superscript ( S1;S2;SU ) after the species names. For more details, go to the ACIMS web site.

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4 PTERIDOPHYTA Ferns & Fern Allies Key to Families 01a Leaves simple, stalkless, grass-like or scale-like, 1-2 mm wide b Leaves (fronds) usually lobed or divided, with stalks (stipes), variously shaped, 5 mm wide. 05 3a 4a 0 Leaves onion-like, basal and slender with wide, sheathing bases, 5-15 cm long; stems thick, short and inconspicuous (covered by leaf bases); spore cases (sporangia) embedded in the upper/inner side of the leaf base...isoetaceae (p. 10) 02b Leaves scale-like, <1.5 cm long; stems slender and conspicuous; spore cases in cones (cone scales sometimes resembling leaves) or in the axils of stem leaves a Stems usually hollow, conspicuously jointed; leaves scale-like, in sheath-like rings (whorls) at stem joints; spore cases on the underside of flat, round, umbrella-like scales in cones at stem tips..... Equisetaceae (p. 11) 03b Stems solid, not jointed; leaves strap-like, spirally arranged or paired (opposite); spore cases in the axils of triangular to strap-like cone scales or in leaf axils b 04a Plants 5-25 cm tall; leaves mostly strap-like or awlshaped, 5-10 mm long (triangular to lance-shaped and 2-4 mm long in Diphasiastrum); cones (when present) cylindrical; spores all similar Lycopodiaceae (p. 7) 04b Plants 1-5(7) cm tall; leaves lance-shaped, 1-4 mm long; cones usually ± 4-sided/angled; spores of 2 types (small and large)...selaginellaceae (p. 9) 5a 05a In colonies from spreading rootstocks in ponds and lake edges; leaves with 4 leaflets at the tip of a long stalk (like a four-leaved clover), often floating in water; spores in a hard, bean-like structures (sporocarps) on a short stalk (often hidden among the leaves).... Marsileaceae - Marsilea vestita 05b Plants and leaves not as above; spores in spore cases on green or modified leaves a 7b 7a 06a Spore cases mm wide, in grape-like clusters on specialized, fertile leaves; sterile leaves below fertile blades on same stalk Ophioglossaceae (p. 13) 06b Spore cases tiny (<1 mm wide), in dot-like clusters (sori) on the lower surface or along edges of green leaves or specialized fertile leaves......[ferns - Polypodiaceae of Moss, 1983] 07 07a Leaves of 2 distinctly different types: green, without spore cases (sterile) and brown (when mature), with spore cases (fertile) b Leaves all similar, not of 2 distinct types (except Pellaea gastonyi, with fertile leaves distinctly longer than sterile leaves)

5 8a 10a 11a 11b 8b 08a Plants 20 cm tall, in small clumps, on rocky sites in the mountains or neab (Canadian Shield); fertile leaves longer than sterile leaves....pteridaceae (in part) - Cryptogramma spp. (p. 17) 08b Plants cm tall, forming colonies from coarse rhizomes, on moist sites in the boreal forest; fertile leaves shorter than sterile leaves......onocleaceae [Dryopteridaceae, in part]... Matteuccia struthiopteris 09a Spore clusters on the leaf edges, usually under down-rolled margins, elongated b Spore clusters set in from the leaf edges (if near the edge, then round) a Spore clusters under down-rolled leaf edges, kidney shaped, separate (not in a continuous strip); leaf segments fan-shaped Pteridaceae (in part) (p. 17)...Adiantum aleuticum [Adiantum pedatum] 10b Spore clusters in a continuous strip along the leaf edge; leaf segments not fan-shaped a Plants cm tall; leaves 2X pinnately divided, ± triangular, cm wide Dennstaedtiaceae - Pteridium aquilinum 11b Plants mostly <30 cm tall; leaves 1-2X pinnately divided, <10 cm wide....pteridaceae (in part) - Myriopteris; Pellaea (p. 17) 1 Leaves 1X pinnately divided, lobed or smoothedged b Leaves 2-4X pinnately divided a Leaflets (pinnae) lobed, egg-shaped, 3-7 x 2-5 mm; leaves 5-10(15) cm long......aspleniaceae - Asplenium viride...[asplenium trichomanes-ramosum] 13b Leaflets smooth-edged or toothed, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, >10 mm long; leaves (5)10-40 cm long a 13a 14a Leaflets rounded at the tip, smooth-edged (without spines)... Polypodiaceae (p. 16) 14b Leaflets pointed at the tip, edged with spines... Dryopteridaceae (in part) - Polystichum lonchitis 15a Leaf stalks (1)1.5-2(3) times as long as the blades; leaves divided into 3 ± equal parts, with each of the 2 lowest leaflets the remaining upper part of the leaf... Cystopteridaceae (p. 19). [Dryopteridaceae, in part] Cystopteris; Gymnocarpium 15b Leaf stalks usually much <2 times the length of the blade; lowest pair of leaflets gradually reduced upwards (not much larger than those above) b 15a 5

6 16a Small tufted plants, mostly <20 cm tall; shortcreeping scaly rhizomes bear small tufts to dense tussocks of leaves; lower leaflets somewhat remote b Larger plants, generally >20 cm tall; plants tufted or in small scattered tufts or single leaves; lower leaflets not remote a 17b 17a Leaf stalk bases persistent after blades are shed; indusium disc- or star-shaped ( ), attached under and obscured by spore clusters. Woodsiaceae (p. 20)...[Dryopteridaceae, in part] - Woodsia 17b Leaf stalk bases disintegrating when blades are shed; indusium hood-like ( ), attached at the side and curved up over the spore clusters....cystopteridaceae [Dryopteridaceae, in part] (p. 19)...Cystopteris 19a 18a 18a Lowest pair of leaflets pointing downwards; lower leaf surface with conspicuous, nearly transparent hairs on the veins and midrib......thelypteridaceae - Phegopteris connectilis 18b Leaves not as above a Indusia often absent, when present elongated, flap-like (attached along 1 edge) and fringed or toothed...athyriaceae (p. 18) - Athyrium 19b Indusia present (sometimes small and soon shrivelling) rounded or kidney-shaped, attached in the hollow of the inner side, not fringed Dryopteridaceae (in part) (p. 21) - Dryopteris 19b 6

7 1a Keys for Families with 2 Species LYCOPODIACEAE Clubmoss Family Key to Genera 01a Stems clumped, without horizontal runners (rootstocks); spore clusters (sporangia) in the axils of unmodified leaves scattered along the length of the stem, not in cones (strobili); spores pitted or grooved; tiny sexual plants (gemmae) often present among the upper leaves....huperzia 01b Stems spread along horizontal runners; spore clusters in the axils of small, modified, leaves (sporophylls) in cones (strobili); spores wrinkled or with net-like ridges; gemmae absent Cones (strobili) erect, on stalks with closely spaced, normal-sized leaves; spores wrinkled; plants in wetlands... Lycopodiella inundata...[lycopodium inundatum] 02b Cones with or without stalks, the stalks (when present) with tiny, widely spaced leaves; spores with net-like ridges; plants mainly in dry uplands b 3a a Uppermost shoots (including leaves) 5-12 mm across, rounded; leaves in 6 vertical rows (ranks), not overlapping; cone stalks (if present) alternately branched, appearing to have 1 main branch... Lycopodium 03b Uppermost shoots (including leaves) 2-6 mm across, 4-sided to flattened (rounded in D. sitchense); leaves mostly in 4-5 vertical rows, overlapping (except in D. sitchense); cone stalks (if present) branched in 2s Diphasiastrum 2b DIPHASIASTRUM Groundcedar (dī-fā-sē-as-trum; dē-pa-sē-as-troom) 01a Plants strongly flattened, (10)15-35 cm tall; cones on 1-8 cm stalks Diphasiastrum complanatum... [Lycopodium complanatum] 01b Plants cylindrical or 4-sided, 5-10(15) cm tall; cones without stalks (rarely with stalks 1 cm long) a 0 Leaves all ± the same shape; stems cylindrical.... Diphasiastrum sitchense... [Lycopodium sitchense] 02b Leaves of 1 row different from the others, shaped like a bricklayer s trowel ( ); stems 4-sided.... Diphasiastrum alpinum... [Lycopodium alpinum] 7

8 1a HUPERZIA Firmoss (hoo-per-zē-a; hoo-per-sē-a) 01a Largest leaves lance-shaped and widest above mid-leaf; shoots cm tall; mainly in shaded forests near streams huperzia occidentalis S2 01b Largest leaves lance-shaped and widest below mid-leaf or with sides ± parallel; shoots mostly 8-15 cm tall; mainly on rocky cliffs and talus slopes, sometimes in open (non-treed) wetlands b a 2b 0 Shoots with annual constrictions; tiny sexual plantlets (gemmae) in 1 pseudo-whorl at the stem tips.... Huperzia selago...[lycopodium selago, in part] 02b Shoots without annual constrictions; gemmae in 1-3 pseudo-whorls at the stem tips or scattered throughout mature shoots.....huperzia continentalis [Huperzia haleakalae... Lycopodium selago, in part] LYCOPODIUM Clubmoss (lī-ko-pō-dē-um; lē-ko-pō-dē-oom) 01a Leaves tipped with a white, 1-4 mm long hair; cones on long stalks.. Lycopodium lagopus... [Lycopodium clavatum] 01b Leaves without hair tips; cones ± stalkless Erect stems simple or 1- to 2-branched; trailing stems above ground.lycopodium annotinum 02b Erect stems few to many branched, tree-like; trailing stems below ground lycopodium dendroideum... [Lycopodium obscurum] 8

9 1a SELAGINELLACEAE Spikemoss Family SELAGINELLA Spikemoss (se-la-ji-ne-la; se-la-gē-ne-la) 1a Plants forming small mats; leaves lanceshaped, soft and fleshy, shed by autumn, well-spaced, edged with a small spines but no bristle-tip; cones (strobili) conspicuous, ± cylindrical.... Selaginella selaginoides 01b Plants tufted or sprawling and forming large mats; leaves narrowly Iance-shaped, stiff, persisting through winter, crowded, edged with tiny hairs and bristle-tipped; cones relatively inconspicuous, 4-angled/sided Leaves in rings (whorls) of 4, tipped with a mm bristle, abruptly attached to the stem (rarely slightly extended down the stem), different in color from the stem (seen when leaves are detached); stems loosely branched; cones mm long, often paired; Waterton Lakes NP... Selaginella wallacei S1 02b Leaves in rings of (4)5-6, tipped with a mm bristle, with lower edges extending down the stem (decurrent; remnants of the bases left when leaves are detached), similar in color to the stem; stems densely branched; cones 2-30 mm long, single a 03a Main stems usually radially symmetric with leaves; leaf bases symmetric, wedge-shaped; ne ¼ of AB...Selaginella rupestris 03b Main stems with slightly different upper and lower sides, the upper leaves smaller than the lower leaves; leaf bases asymmetric, attached to the stem at an angle; s ½ of AB a 5b 5a 04a Leaves tipped with a conspicuous, (1) mm long, hairy bristle; leaves usually edged with mm hairs (cilia); spore-bearing leaves (sporophylls) fringed with hairs for their entire length.... Selaginella densa 04b Leaves tipped with a tiny, mm long, smooth or slightly hairy bristle; leaves edged with (0.15) mm hairs; spore-bearing leaves toothed or fringed for part (not all) of their length a Spore-bearing leaves triangular-egg-shaped, keeled at tip and abruptly squared at base (in profile), upper 3/4 edged with short hairs or teeth; bristle usually yellowish; alpine habitats.... Selaginella standleyi... [Selaginella densa var. standleyi] 05b Spore-bearing leaves narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped, gradually tapered or slightly keeled at the tip, not squared at the base (in profile), edged with short hairs or teeth on the lower 1/2 but hairless near the tip; bristle usually whitish transparent (rarely yellowish on old leaves); low elevation to alpine habitats Selaginella scopulorum... [Selaginella densa var. scopulorum] 9

10 1a ISOETACEAE Quillwort Family ISOETES [ISOËTES] Quillwort (ī-sō-ē-tēz; ē-sō-e-tēs) 01a Leaves stiff, persisting for >1 year (evergreen), dark green; spore-cluster (sporangium) wall unpigmented; megaspores (0.4) mm, with rough spines or sharp ridges but smooth on the middle ridge (girdle); microspores smooth or warty; Pyramid L, Jasper NP Isoetes occidentalis S1 01b Leaves soft or stiff, shed each year (deciduous), bright green (sometimes red-tinged); sporecluster (sporangium) wall brown streaked; spores various Megaspores (0.5) mm, with low warts or short crests and an obscure middle ridge (girdle); microspores finely spiny; alpine lakes in Waterton Lakes NP.. lsoetes bolanderi S1 02b Megaspores mm, densely spiny/warty; microspores smooth or warty a 03a Plants not self-supporting out of water, flaccid/ pliant; megaspores mm, with long, thin spines that are all similar; microspores smooth; neab and Cameron Hills lsoetes echinospora S2 03b Plants self-supporting out of water, rigid/stiff; megaspores (0.4) mm, covered in short spines that become shorter and denser around the middle ridge; microspores spiny; Pyramid L Jasper NP... Isoetes maritima S1 3b 10

11 1a 1b EQUISETACEAE Horsetail Family EQUISETUM Horsetail (e-kwi-sē-tum; e-kwē-sā-toom) 01a Stems unbranched (sometimes with a few random branchlets) b Stems with successive rings (whorls) of branches Stems (20)30-100(120) cm tall, 3-8 mm wide, with (12)15-40 ridges; sheaths 4-10 x 4-10 mm usually >4.0 mm long b Stems 10-30(60) cm tall, 1-3(4) mm wide, with 3-15(18) ridges; sheaths various 4-9 x 2-5 mm b 3a 03a Stems soft, readily flattened; teeth present on all sheaths, brownish black, sometimes with a narrow, semi-transparent edge; cone tips rounded..... Equisetum fluviatile (in part) 03b Stems stiff, not easily flattened; teeth missing from many/all sheaths, when present dry, thin and semi-transparent throughout or in a broad band along the edges; cone tips round or pointed a 4b 04a Cone tips tapered to a sharp, slender point; sheaths cylindrical, almost as wide as tall, usually with 2 continuous black bands, and a greyish white band between, with some persistent teeth.... Equisetum hyemale 04b Cone tips rounded; sheaths somewhat funnelshaped, taller than wide, mostly green with 1 black band (often as a row of dots), with shortlived (deciduous) teeth (except on sheaths near the cones).... Equisetum laevigatum 05a Stems firm, evergreen; cones tipped with a sharp point b Stems soft, dying back at the end of summer; cone tips rounded a 6b 06a Stems mm wide, much bent/zigzagged; sheaths with 3 teeth. Equisetum scirpoides 06b Stems 1-2(3) mm wide, straight or slightly curved; sheaths with >3 teeth Equisetum variegatum 07a Stems green.. Equisetum palustre (in part) 07b Stems not green a Stem sheath teeth reddish, papery, joined in 3-4 large groups Equisetum sylvaticum (in part) 08b Stem sheath teeth black or brown, firm, separate or joined in >4 small groups a 8a 11

12 9a 09a Stem sheaths (2)3-6 mm wide at the mouth, their teeth separate with narrow midveins and broad semi-transparent edges; stems with pores (stomata), eventually becoming green and branched, persisting through the summer....equisetum pratense (in part) 09b Stem sheaths (3)5-10 mm wide at the mouth, their teeth often joined and with broad midveins and scarcely paler edges; upper sheaths without bud-like outgrowths; stems without stomata, never branching, soon withering Equisetum arvense (in part) 9b 10a Branches branched again; stem sheaths green below, reddish brown above, with teeth joined in 3-4 broad papery lobes Equisetum sylvaticum (in part) 10b Branches simple/unbranched; stem sheaths not as above a 11a Lower branches with basal segments ( ) longer than the adjacent stem sheath (in length); plants never bearing cones Equisetum arvense (in part) 11b Lower branches with basal segments ( ) equalling or shorter than the adjacent stem sheath; plants often bearing cones a 11b; 12b 1 1 Branch sheaths 3-toothed; branches solid equisetum pratense (in part) 12b Branch sheaths 4- to 6-toothed; branches hollow, with a central cavity a Stem sheaths 6- to 8-toothed; central cavity of branches very small Equisetum palustre (in part) 13b Stem sheaths 10- to 30-toothed; central cavity of branches large Equisetum fluviatile (in part) 13a 13b 12

13 1a 2b b OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Adder s-tongue Family Key to Genera 01a Leaf blades 0-2X pinnately divided, mostly oblong to lance-shaped, 2-10(20) cm long Botrychium 01b Leaf blades 3-5X pinnately divided, broadly triangular, (5)12-25 cm long Leaf blade (trophophore) thin, herbaceous, dying back in autumn, joined to the sporebearing branch (sporophore) well above ground on a common stalk Botrypus virginianus... [Botrychium virginianum] 02b Leaf blade thick, leathery, persisting through winter (evergreen), joined to the spore-bearing branch at ground level, without a noticeable common stalk....sceptridium BOTRYCHIUM Grapefern (bō-trī-kē-um; bō-trē-kē-oom) 01a Plants with 2 spore-bearing blades, leafy (vegetative) blade absent b Plants with 1 leafy blade (rarely with spores on lowest lobes) and 1 spore-bearing blade Spore-bearing blades <10(15) cm tall, ± equal in height and without flattened segments; Waterton Lakes NP and Cypress Hills Botrychium paradoxum S1 02b Spore-bearing blades mostly cm tall, of unequal heights and with flattened segments bearing spore clusters along the edges; endemic to Waterton Lakes NP......Botrychium x watertonense S1 03a Leaf blade 2X pinnately divided/lobed b Leaf blade undivided (entire) or 1X pinnately divided a 04a Leaf blade triangular, divided into 3 main parts; leaflets and sub-leaflets (pinnules) long and narrow.... Botrychium lanceolatum 04b Leaf blade egg-shaped to oblong, with 1 main axis; leaflets and sub-leaflets triangular to long and narrow a 05a Leaf blade tipped with a distinctively broad lobe; lowest leaflets pinnately lobed but upper leaflets not lobed botrychium simplex S2 (in part) 05b Leaf blade without a distinctively broad lobe at the tip; lower and upper leaflets usually pinnately lobed

14 6a 7a 06a Leaf blade 2-4X as long as its stalk; lowermost leaflets sometimes with spore clusters; Waterton Lakes NP and Cypress Hills Botrychium pedunculosum S1 06b Leaf blade >4X as long as its stalk; leaflets rarely with spore clusters a Leaflets many-lobed, at ±90 to the main stem; lowest leaflets symmetrical, without exaggerated lower lobes botrychium pinnatum 07b Leaflets few-lobed, angled upwards at <90 to the stem; lowest leaflets asymmetrical with exaggerated lower lobes a 8a 08a Lowest leaflet pair distinctly larger than the upper pairs.. Botrychium michiganense SU 08b Lowest leaflet pair = or only slightly larger than the upper pairs a Leaflets triangular-egg-shaped; basal leaflet pair elongated....botrychium hesperium 09b Leaflets oblong; basal leaflets not elongated; neab.... Botrychium matricariifolium S1 9b 10a 10a Leaflets broad, overlapping, semi-circular, occasionally lobed but not conspicuously scalloped (sometimes slightly scalloped in young plants)...botrychium neolunaria...[botrychium lunaria] 10b Leaflets separate (occasionally overlapping), if semi-circular then conspicuously scalloped.11 11a Leaflets oblong to weakly fan-shaped, mostly lobed b Leaflets fan-shaped, smooth edged to scalloped (occasionally with some lobed) b 1 Central axis/stalk of leaf blade (rachis) wide, up to 1/3 of the blade width; leaflets diamondshaped to weakly fan-shaped, shallowly to deeply lobed....botrychium campestre 12b Central axis/stalk of leaf blade not noticeably wide; leaflets slender with ± parallel sides, usually deeply lobed; 2 disjunct locations in sw and ecab... Botrychium lineare S1 13a Leaflets scalloped or toothed b Leaflets smooth edged, occasionally lobed but not scalloped or toothed a 14b 14a Leaflets narrowly fan-shaped with both edges strongly angled towards the leaf tip, usually conspicuously toothed/torn; lowest leaflets sometimes with spore clusters (sporangia)..... Botrychium ascendens 14b Leaflets broadly fan-shaped to semi-circular, with edges spreading to weakly angles towards the leaf tip, shallowly scalloped (usually) to ± toothed; lowest leaflets without spore clusters.... Botrychium crenulatum... [incl. Botrychium dusenii] 14

15 15a 15a Leaflets ± round, with no abrupt change in angle between sides and tip; stalk of mature spore-bearing blade shorter than the leafy blade; lowest branches of the spore cluster ± spreading and twisted so that sporangia point outward or downward; Conklin, Banff & Jasper areas.... Botrychium tunux S1S2 15b Leaflets ± fan-shaped, with an abrupt change in angle between the sides and tip; stalk of the mature spore-bearing blade usually longer than the leafy blade; lowest branches and distribution not as above a 16a 16a Leaf blade tipped with a distinctively broad lobe (unlobed when young); leaflets often overlapping; plants occasionally with 2 leaf blades....botrychium simplex S2 (in part) 16b Leaf blade without a broad lobe at the tip; leaflets rarely overlapping; plants with 1 leafy blade a Leaf blade triangular-egg-shaped, stalkless to short-stalked; spore-bearing blade 2X pinnately divided, 1X as long as the leafy (sterile) blade.... Botrychium spathulatum 17b Leafy blade oblong, clearly stalked; sporebearing blade 1X pinnately divided, 1.2-4X as long as the leafy blade a 18b a 1b 18a Leaflets bluish green with a pale waxy coating, shallowly lobed, the lowest pair uneven; sporebearing blade 1.5-4X as long as the leaf blade, on a stalk 3/4 the length of the leaf blade; spore-bearing branches angled upwards, overlapping, releasing spores in late July Botrychium pallidum S2 18b Leaflets dull green, without a pale waxy coating, smooth edged to shallowly scalloped, the lowest pair ± even; spore-bearing blade X as long as the leaf blade, on a stalk the length of the leaf blade; sporebearing branches spreading, not overlapping, releasing spores in late August Botrychium minganense SCEPTRIDIUM Leathery-grapefern (skep-tri-dē-um; skep-trē-dē-oom) 01a Leaflets undivided on the upper 1/4-1/2, the uppermost leaflet much larger than the side leaflets; neab.... Sceptridium oneidense...[botrychium oneidense] S1 01b Leaflets all divided to the tip, the uppermost leaflet equaling or slightly larger than the side leaflets... Sceptridium multifidum... [Botrychium multifidum] 15

16 1a POLYPODIACEAE Polypody Family POLYPODIUM Polypodium (po-li-pō-dē-um; po-lē-pō-dē-oom) 01a Spore dots (sori) without hair-like structures (paraphyses/sporangiasters) beneath the spores; rootstock scales usually smoothedged and symmetric; extreme swab Polypodium hesperium S1 01b Spore dots with numerous, dark, hair-like structures beneath the spores; rootstock scales usually coarse-toothed and twisted near the tip; ne and nwab Rootstock scales light brown or strongly twocolored; leaves (3.5)4-7 cm wide; hair-like structures in spore dots mostly tipped with glands; Canadian Shield, neab Polypodium virginianum S1 02b Rootstock scales uniformly dark brown or with obscurely lighter edges; leaves 1-4 cm wide; hair-like structures in spore dots mostly without glands; Canadian Shield and Boreal Forest in neab.... Polypodium sibiricum 2b 16

17 1a PTERIDACEAE Maidenhair Family Key to Genera 1a Spores borne under down-rolled edges of distinct leaf lobes; leaflet veins prominent, branching in 2s, ± parallel near their tips; Crowsnest Pass to Waterton Lakes NP.....Adiantum aleuticum S2 [Adiantum pedatum] 01b Spores on lower leaf surfaces or on smooth (not lobed) edges; leaflet veins obscure (usually), pinnately branched, not parallel. 02 3a 0 Leaves of 2 types (dimorphic); fertile leaves larger, with narrow leaflets and down-rolled edges; sterile leaves with flat edges; upper leaf stalks green to straw-colored, ± hairless; mature spores usually yellow.cryptogramma 02b Leaves all similar (monomorphic); upper leaf stalks brown/black, if paler, then hairy; mature spores brown/black (rarely yellow) b b 1a a 1b b 1a 03a Leaves hairless beneath; upper leaflets 5 mm long.... Pellaea 03b Leaves densely woolly beneath; upper leaflets <5 mm long....myriopteris [Cheilanthes] CRYPTOGRAMMA Rock Brake (krip-to-gra-ma; krēp-to-gra-ma) 01a Leaves densely tufted, from short rootstocks; sterile leaves firm, persisting over winter; leaf stalk bases pale, with many reddish-brown scales 3 mm long Cryptogramma acrostichoides 01b Leaves scattered along slender, creeping rootstocks; sterile leaves delicate, dying and shed each fall; leaf stalk bases reddish-brown, with a few golden scales 2 mm long Cryptogramma stelleri MYRIOPTERIS [CHEILANTHES] Lipfern (mi-rē-op-te-ris; mē-rē-op-te-rēs) 01a Leaf-blades with strap-shaped scales mm wide on underside of central stalk and midveins; Waterton Lakes NP.... Myriopteris gracillima S1... [Cheilanthes gracillima] 01b Leaf-blades with conspicuous, mm wide, lance- to egg-shaped scales (do not confuse dehisced spore clusters with scales) Myriopteris gracilis [Cheilanthes feei] PELLAEA Cliffbrake (pe-lē-a; pe-lī-a) 01a Leaves sparsely woolly beneath near midvein, of 2 types, with fertile leaves much longer than the sterile leaves; leaf stalks purplish black, long-woolly; primarily front ranges, Banff NP. Pellaea gastonyi S2 [Pellaea atropurpurea] 01b Leaves ± hairless beneath (sometimes a few hair-like scales near midrib), all similar with brownish, ± hairless stalks.. Pellaea glabella 17

18 1a 1b ATHYRIACEAE [DRYOPTERIDACEAE, in part] Ladyfern Family ATHYRIUM Ladyfern (a-thē-rē-um; a-tē-rē-oom) 01a Spore dots (sori) elongate or hooked, midway between the leaf edge and midvein; indusia well-developed; leaves (fronds) diamondshaped to lance-shaped, widest above midleaf, (18)25-90(110) x(6)10-30 cm; lowland plants of wooded/shrubby sites Athyrium filix-femina 01b Spore dots round, near the leaf edge; indusia absent (usually) or tiny; leaves narrowly diamond-shaped to nearly linear, x 3-5 cm; alpine plants, Waterton Lakes NP Athyrium distentifolium S1 [Athyrium alpestre ; Athyrium americanum] 18

19 1a 1b b 1a a CYSTOPTERIDACEAE [DRYOPTERIDACEAE, in part] Bladderfern Family Key to Genera 01a Indusia present, attached to the side and arching over the spores; leaves saw-toothed.... Cystopteris 01b Indusia absent; spore clusters round; leaves smooth-edged or scalloped. Gymnocarpium CYSTOPTERIS Bladderfern (sis-top-te-ris; kēs-top-te-rēs) 01a Leaves tufted, from thick, unbranched rootstocks; leaf stalks shorter than the blades; leaf blades lance-shaped, 2-3 times longer than wide... Cystopteris fragilis 01b Leaves scattered along slender, branched rootstocks; leaf stalks longer than the blades; leaf blades triangular, length width Cystopteris montana GYMNOCARPIUM Oakfern (jim-nō -KAR-pē-um; gēm-no-kar-pē-oom) 01a Leaves stiff, glandular beneath; 2 lower leaflets (pinnae) ±1/2 as long as the rest of the leaf; leaf stalk and central axis (rachis) dull, glandular....gymnocarpium jessoense S2 01b Leaves delicate, not glandular beneath; 2 lower leaflets ± as long as the rest of the leaf; leaf stalk and central axis lustrous, ± without glands b 0 Leaf blades 3-14 cm long; lowest sub-leaflets of the 2 lower leaflets mostly stalkless and ± equal in length, smooth-edged to slightly scalloped; lowest sub-leaflets of the main upper leaflet 1/3-1X as long as the lowest subleaflets of the 2 lower leaflets gymnocarpium dryopteris 02b Leaf blades 8-24 cm long; lowest sub-leaflets of the 2 lower leaflets short stalked, markedly unequal in length, slightly lobed to scalloped; lowest sub-leaflets of the main upper leaflet <1/4X as long as the lowest sub-leaflets of the 2 lower leaflets. Gymnocarpium disjunctum 19

20 1a 1b WOODSIACEAE [DRYOPTERIDACEAE,in part] Cliff-fern Family WOODSIA Cliff-fern (WOOD-sē-a) 01a Leaf stalks with a small, dark, swollen joint near the base, breaking evenly and leaving persistent bases of similar length; leaf blades without glands; indusia disc-shaped, with dark, hair-like segments curved around the spore clusters b Leaf stalks not jointed, breaking unevenly and leaving persistent bases of uneven length; leaf blades sometimes with glands; indusia star-shaped, usually covered/hidden by spore clusters b 3a 0 Leaf stalks straw-yellow or green (dark at the base only), without scales or hairs above the joint; blades 5-12 mm wide, hairless; indusia of 5-8 hair-like segments, slightly longer than the spore clusters; Rockies, north from Banff NP..... Woodsia glabella S2 02b Leaf stalks brown, with scales and hairs above the joint; blades mm wide, hairy; indusia with hair-like segments, conspicuously longer than the spore clusters woodsia ilvensis 03a Leaf stalks easily broken; leaves with whitish, many-celled, jointed hairs along the midrib; indusia with broad lobes irregularly torn into slender segments....woodsia scopulina 03b Leaf stalks pliable, not easily broken; leaves sometimes with tiny glands but without jointed hairs; indusia with hair-like segments resembling strings of pearls (moniliform) Woodsia oregana 3b 20

21 1b 1a a 3b 3a DRYOPTERIDACEAE Shieldfern Family Key to Genera 01a Indusia round, attached at their center (peltate); spore dots (sori) round; leaf stalks with 3 vascular bundles at the base; leaves 1X pinnately divided, edged with conspicuous spines....polystichum lonchitis 01b Indusia mostly kidney-shaped (sometimes roundish or elongated) or absent, attached at the hollow (sinus) on one side; spore dots round or elongated; leaf stalks with 2 vascular bundles at the base; leaves (1)2-3X pinnately divided, mostly edged with small, often spinetipped teeth.... Dryopteris DRYOPTERIS Shieldfern (drī-op-te-ris; drē-op-te-rēs) 01a Leaves (fronds) 2-20 cm long, fragrant with aromatic glands; indusia crowded, often overlapping; plants of dry, rocky slopes (usually); foothills, N Rockies + Canadian Shield.... Dryopteris fragrans S2 01b Leaves (10) cm long, not fragrant, usually without glands; indusia separate (not overlapping); woodland plants (usually) Leaves 2-3X pinnately divided/lobed at the base; indusia <1 mm wide b Leaves 2X pinnately divided/lobed at the base; indusia ±1 mm wide a Lowest pair of sub-leaflets (pinnules) similar; leaves broadly lance-shaped; leaf-stalk scales uniformly colored dryopteris carthusiana 03b Lowest 2 sub-leaflets notably unequal; leaves triangular-egg-shaped; leaf-stalk scales dark in the middle and paler near the edges Dryopteris expansa... [Dryopteris assimilis] 4b 4a 04a Leaf stalks <1/4 as long as the blades; leaflets ± uniform, lance-shaped (often narrowly), up to 8-18 cm long; leaf scales a mix of broad and hair-like; Kananaskis to Waterton Dryopteris filix-mas S1S2 04b Leaf stalks 1/4-1/3 as long as the blades; leaflets varied, triangular-egg-shaped (at the base) to oblong- lance-shaped (above), 6-8 cm long; leaf scales broad to slender (not hairlike).... Dryopteris cristata 21

22 References Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS) List of all Vascular Plant Taxa Confirmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - July 2017.in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. Britton, N. L. and A. Brown An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada. Reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edition. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York. Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. Budd, A. C., J. Looman, and K. F. Best Budd s flora of the Canadian prairie provinces. Volume 1. Ferns and Fern Allies, Conifers, Monocots Reprint edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC. Crow, G. E. and C. B. Hellquist Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America, Volume 1: Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI. Douglas, G. W., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar Illustrated flora of British Columbia. Volume 5. Dicotyledons (Salicaceae through Zygophyllaceae) and Pteridophytes. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, British Columbia. Farrar, D. R. and S. J. Popovich Ophioglossaceae of Colorado, adjacent states and southwest South Dakota.in Native Plant Society of New Mexico Moonwort Workshop, August 11-12, 2010, Silver City, NM. Flora North America Editorial Committee Flora North America website. Oxford University Press. Accessed org. Lellinger, D. B A field manual of ferns and fern-allies of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. Moss, E. H Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario. Packer, J. G. and A. J. Gould Vascular Plants of Alberta Part 1: Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Monocots. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta. 22

23 Testo, W., A. Haines, and A. V. Gilman Huperzia continentalis (Lycopodiaceae), a new species of gemmiferous firmoss separated from Huperzia haleakalae. Systematic Botany 41: Vitt, D. H., J. E. Marsh, and R. B. Bovey Mosses, lichens and ferns of northwestern North America. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta. Williston, P The Botrychiaceae of Alberta. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Edmonton, Alberta. 23

24 List of Species and Illustration Sources Scientific Name Illus. Source Scientific Name Adiantum aleuticum Equisetum fluviatile Asplenium viride Equisetum hyemale Athyrium distentifolium Equisetum laevigatum Athyrium filix-femina Equisetum palustre Botrychium ascendens Williston Equisetum pratense Botrychium campestre Nelson Equisetum scirpoides Botrychium crenulatum Williston Equisetum sylvaticum Botrychium hesperium Nelson Equisetum variegatum Botrychium lanceolatum Nelson Gymnocarpium disjunctum Botrychium lineare Williston Gymnocarpium dryopteris Botrychium matricariifolium Gymnocarpium jessoense Botrychium michiganense Williston Huperzia continentalis Botrychium minganense Nelson Huperzia occidentalis Botrychium neolunaria Nelson Huperzia selago Botrychium pallidum Nelson Isoetes bolanderi Botrychium paradoxum Williston Isoetes echinospora Botrychium pedunculosum Williston Isoetes maritima Botrychium pinnatum Williston Isoetes occidentalis Botrychium simplex Nelson Lycopodiella inundata Botrychium spathulatum Nelson Lycopodium annotinum Botrychium tunux LK Lycopodium dendroideum Botrychium x watertonense Williston Lycopodium lagopus Botrypus virginianus Marsilea vestita Cryptogramma acrostichoides Matteuccia struthiopteris Cryptogramma stelleri Myriopteris gracilis Cystopteris fragilis Myriopteris gracillima Cystopteris montana Pellaea gastonyi Diphasiastrum alpinum ; BC Pellaea glabella Diphasiastrum complanatum Phegopteris connectilis Diphasiastrum sitchense Polypodium hesperium Dryopteris carthusiana JM Polypodium sibiricum Dryopteris cristata Polypodium virginianum Dryopteris expansa Polystichum lonchitis Dryopteris filix-mas Pteridium aquilinum Dryopteris fragrans JM Sceptridium multifidum Equisetum arvense Sceptridium oneidense Illus. Source BC; JM JM JM BC BC BC BC B&B Nelson 24

25 Scientific Name Selaginella densa Selaginella rupestris Selaginella scopulorum Selaginella selaginoides Selaginella standleyi Selaginella wallacei Woodsia glabella Woodsia ilvensis Woodsia oregana Woodsia scopulina Illus. Source JM BC BC; LK JM JM Key to Illustration Sources B&B = Britton, N. L. and A. Brown An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada. reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edition. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York. BC = Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et. al., 2000), provided courtesy of the Province of British Columbia. = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Volume 1. University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington. JM = John Maywood Kershaw = Linda Kershaw. Nelson = Paul Nelson, courtesy of the USDA Forest Service Williston = Patrick Williston (2001) 25

26 Index Adiantum aleuticum 5, 17 pedatum. See Adiantum aleuticum Aspleniaceae 5 Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum. See Asplenium viride viride 5 Athyriaceae 6, 18 Athyrium 6, 18 alpestre. See Athyrium distentifolium americanum. See Athyrium distentifolium distentifolium 18 filix-femina 18 Botrychium 13 ascendens 14 campestre 14 crenulatum 14 dusenii. See Botrychium crenulatum hesperium 14 lanceolatum 13 lineare 14 lunaria. See Botrychium neolunaria matricariifolium 14 michiganense 14 minganense 15 multifidum. See Sceptridium multifidum neolunaria 14 oneidense. See Sceptridium oneidense pallidum 15 paradoxum 13 pedunculosum 14 pinnatum 14 simplex 13, 15 spathulatum 15 tunux 15 virginianum. See Botrypus virginianus x watertonense 13 Botrypus virginianus 13 Cheilanthes. See Myriopteris Cryptogramma 5, 17 acrostichoides 17 stelleri 17 Cystopteridaceae 5, 6, 19 Cystopteris 5, 6, 19 fragilis 19 montana 19 Dennstaedtiaceae 5 Diphasiastrum 7 alpinum 7 complanatum 7 sitchense 7 Dryopteridaceae 5, 6, 21. See also Onocleaceae; See also Cystopteridaceae; See also Woodsiaceae; See also Athyriaceae Dryopteris 6, 21 assimilis. See Dryopteris expansa carthusiana 21 cristata 21 expansa 21 filix-mas 21 fragrans 21 Equisetaceae 4, 11 Equisetum 11 arvense 12 fluviatile 11, 12 hyemale 11 laevigatum 11 palustre 11, 12 pratense 12 scirpoides 11 sylvaticum 11, 12 variegatum 11 Gymnocarpium 5, 19 disjunctum 19 dryopteris 19 jessoense 19 Huperzia 7 continentalis 8 haleakalae. See Huperzia continentalis occidentalis 8 selago 8 Isoetaceae 4, 10 Isoetes 10 maritima 10 occidentalis 10 Isoëtes 10 26

27 lsoetes bolanderi 10 echinospora 10 Lycopodiaceae 4, 7 Lycopodiella inundata 7 Lycopodium 7 alpinum. See Diphasiastrum alpinum annotinum 8 clavatum. See Lycopodium lagopus complanatum. See Diphasiastrum complanatum dendroideum 8 inundatum. See Lycopodiella inundata lagopus 8 obscurum. See Lycopodium dendroideum selago. See Huperzia selago; See Huperzia continentalis sitchense. See Diphasiastrum sitchense Marsilea vestita 4 Marsileaceae 4 Matteuccia struthiopteris 5 Myriopteris 5, 17 Onocleaceae 5 Ophioglossaceae 4, 13 Pellaea 5, 17 atropurpurea. See Pellaea gastonyi gastonyi 17 glabella 17 Phegopteris connectilis 6 Polypodiaceae 4, 5, 16 Polypodium 16 sibiricum 16 virginianum 16 Polypodium hesperium hesperium 16 Polystichum lonchitis 5, 21 Pteridaceae 5, 17 Pteridium aquilinum 5 Pteridophyta 4 Sceptridium 13, 15 multifidum 15 oneidense 15 Selaginella 9 densa 9 var. scopulorum. See Selaginella scopulorum var. standleyi. See Selaginella standleyi rupestris 9 scopulorum 9 selaginoides 9 standleyi 9 wallacei 9 Selaginellaceae 4, 9 Thelypteridaceae 6 Woodsia 6 glabella 20 ilvensis 20 oregana 20 scopulina 20 Woodsiaceae 6, 20 27