Coastal Woodfern

Dryopteris arguta is somewhat variable. It has been suggested that more than one taxon is involved. No hybrids involving D . arguta are known.

Leaves monomorphic, green through winter, 25--90 × 8--30 cm. Petiole 1/4--1/3 length of leaf, scaly at least at base; scales scattered, light brown. Blade green to yellow-green, ovate-lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate at base, herbaceous, glandular. Pinnae ± in plane of blade, lance-oblong; basal pinnae deltate, not much reduced, basal pinnules ± same length as adjacent pinnules, basal basiscopic pinnule and basal acroscopic pinnule ± equal, pinnule margins serrate with spreading, spinelike teeth. Sori midway between midvein and margin of segments. Indusia lacking glands. 2 n = 82.

B.C.; Ariz., Calif., Oreg., Wash.; Mexico in Baja California.

Shaded slopes and open woods; 0--2100m.

Aspidium argutum Kaulfuss, Enum. Filic., 242. 1824

Dryopteris arguta occurs chiefly in coastal areas from the extreme south of British Columbia (including the southeastern extremity of Vancouver Island) to Monterey County in California. Less frequently, this species is found in coastal ravines as far south as Baja California, Mexico. Although most frequently found in the coastal ranges, the species also occurs as far inland at the Lava Beds National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Pinnacles National Monument and Joshua Tree National Monument. Disjunctive populations are found in Arizona, particularly in moist ravines of Gila County's Sierra Ancha and in the Superstition Mountains and Queens Creek areas of Pinal County.

Dryopteris arguta, with the common name coastal woodfern, is a species of wood fern. It is native to the west coast and western interior mountain ranges of North America, from British Columbia, throughout California, and into Arizona.

It grows between sea level and 6,000 feet (1,800 m). It is found in mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, and shady lower elevation slopes in chaparral and woodlands habitats.