Species: Woodsia alpina (Bolton) S.F. Gray

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Woodsia alpina (Bolton) S.F. Gray

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Dryopteridaceae

Genus:

Woodsia

Species Synonyms:

Woodsia alpina var. bellii Lawson
Woodsia glabella var. bellii (Lawson) Lawson

Common Names:

alpine woodsia
northern woodsia
cliff-fern

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon Territory – Northwest Territories – Labrador, south to northern British Columbia, northwestern Saskatchewan, Manitoba – Ontario – Nova Scotia – Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northwestern Saskatchewan; Clearwater River

Ecoregion:

Mid-Boreal Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

woods, on granitic slopes and outcrops

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 N3 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Alpine woodsia is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is rare and is only known from one region of the province. Local population sizes vary, but are almost always small. No immediate threats are known for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Roots:

rhizomes short-creeping, covered with old leaf bases, scales uniformly brown

Fronds:

tufted

Stipes:

jointed above base at swollen node, reddish-brown or dark purple when mature, relatively brittle

Blades:

linear to narrowly lance-shaped, usually pinnately-lobed, glands lacking; vein tips often enlarged to form whitish openings which exude water (visible on top)

Pinnae:

largest with 1 – 3 pairs of pinnules, ovate to triangular, longer than wide, tip abruptly tapered to rounded or acute, lower surface with few hairs and linear scales, upper surface hairless

Pinnules:

margin entire or broadly round-toothed, occasionally with isolated hairs

Indusia:

narrow, hair-like segments, in one row, usually surpassing mature spore sacs

Sori:

rounded, separate, but often confluent in age

WOODSIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Blades and central axis completely hairless; lower pinnae wider than long; leaves < 1.2 cm wide; mature stalks green or straw-coloured throughout	W. glabella
1 Blades and/or central axis with scattered hairs; proximal pinnae longer than wide; leaves > 1.2 cm wide (if less, mature stalks reddish brown or dark purple)	2

2 Stalks jointed above base, swollen at joint; indusia segments in one row throughout; pinnules entire or round-toothed	3
2 Stalks not jointed above the base, no swelling; indusia segments in several rows at base; pinnules square-toothed	4

3 Largest pinnae with 1 – 3 pairs of pinnules	W. alpina
3 Largest pinnae with 4 – 9 pairs of pinnules	W. ilvensis

4 Pinnae with flattened hairs on midrib; stalks relatively brittle and easily shattered; indusia with broad lobes shredded into slender segments	W. scopulina ssp. scopulina
4 Pinnae without flattened hairs on midrib; stalks pliable; indusia with slender, often hair-like segments	5

5 Spores 39 – 44 um; pinnule margins entire	W. oregana ssp oregana
5 Spores 45 – 50 um; pinnule margins minutely square-toothed and appearing ragged	W. oregana spp. cathcartiana