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

Woodsia alpina 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 stipe bases, scales uniformly brown

Fronds:

tufted

Stipes:

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

Blades:

linear to narrowly lanceolate, usually pinnate-pinnatifed, glands lacking; vein tips often enlarged to form whitish hydathodes (visible adaxially)

Pinnae:

largest with 1 – 3 pairs of pinnules, ovate to deltate, longer than wide, apex abruptly tapered to rounded or acute, abaxial surface with few hairs and linear scales, adaxial surface glabrous

Pinnules:

margin entire or broadly crenate, occasionally with isolated hairs

Indusia:

narrow, hair-like segments, uniseriate, usually surpassing mature sporangia

Sori:

rounded, separate, but often confluent in age

WOODSIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

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

2 Stipes articulate above base, swollen at point of articulation; indusia segments uniseriate throughout; pinnules entire or crenate	3
2 Stipes not articulate above the base, swelling absent; indusia segments multiseriate at base; pinnules dentate	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; stipes relatively brittle and easily shattered; indusia with broad lobes lacerate into slender segments	W. scopulina ssp. scopulina
4 Pinnae lacking flattened hairs on midrib; stipes 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 dentate and appearing ragged	W. oregana spp. cathcartiana