Alpine Cliff Fern
Woodsia alpina (Bolton) Gray
Woodsia alpina, known as Alpine Cliff Fern, is a fern species in the family Woodsiaceae. It is distributed across northern regions of North America and Eurasia, including Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland, British Columbia, and parts of Europe such as Austria. This fern is commonly found in rocky habitats like crevices, scree slopes, and cliffs, especially those with slate and calcareous rocks such as limestone.
Description
Woodsia alpina is a member of the genus Woodsia and is native to high-latitude regions in both North America and Eurasia. It thrives in rocky environments, particularly in crevices and on scree slopes and cliffs composed of slate and calcareous substrates. The species was first described in 1821 and is known by several common names, including Alpine Cliff Fern and Northern Woodsia. Its range includes parts of Canada, the United States, and several European countries.
Other common names
Alpine Cliff FernAlpine CliffbrakeAlpine WoodsiaNorthern Woodsia
Distribution
Greenland · Labrador · Newfoundland · British Columbia · Manitoba · New Brunswick · Nova Scotia · Northwest Territories · Nunavut · Ontario · Quebec · Saskatchewan · Yukon · SE · Vermont-US · IS · NO · GL · Alaska · Austria · Belarus · Central European Rus · Czechoslovakia · East European Russia · Finland · France · Germany · Great Britain · Hungary · Iceland
Synonyms
Polypodium arvonicumPolypodium hyperboreumCeterach alpinaAcrostichum hyperboreumTrichocyclus hyperboreusWoodsia hyperboreaAcrostichum alpinumWoodsia belliWoodsia alpina var. belliiWoodsia alpina var. alpinaWoodsia ilvensis var. alpinaWoodsia ilvensis subsp. alpinaWoodsia himalaicaWoodsia alpina subsp. belliiWoodsia glabella var. belliiCeterach alpinumCeterach hyperboreumWoodsia hyperborea var. alpinaWoodsia hyperborea var. arvonicaWoodsia ilvensis subsp. arvonicaWoodsia ilvensis subsp. hyperboreaWoodsia ilvensis var. alpinaPolypodium alpinumWoodsia alpinaWoodsia intermediaWoodsia pubescens