Polystichum imbricans Calflora

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Taxon Report

Polystichum imbricans (D. C. Eaton) D.H. Wagner

Cliff sword fern, Narrow leaved sword fern, Narrowleaf swordfern

Polystichum imbricans is a fern that is native to California.


	Plant Range Observation Search ~1119 records in California Plant Characteristics

Photos on Calflora


Subspecies and Varieties:
... ssp. curtum ... ssp. imbricans
Genus:	Polystichum
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Category:	fern
PLANTS group:	Fern
Jepson eFlora section: fern

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS + POWO

Information about Polystichum imbricans from other sources


Nursery availability from CNPLX This plant is available commercially. Jepson eFlora USDA PLANTS Profile (POIM) Photos on Calflora Photos on CalPhotos Google Images Photos on iNaturalist ID Tips on PlantID.net	ITIS Original Publication citation International Plants Names Index Search efloras.org (Flora of North America) Landscape information from Calscape BONAP Distribution Map Consortium of California Herbaria 2 Search the Native American Ethnobotany Database	Add an Observation Location Suitability Planting Guide Distribution by County
[Wikipedia] Etymology: The specific name imbricans refers to the overlapping (imbricate) leaflets, from the Latin imbricatus. (link added by Mary Ann Machi) photos / record / common / links

Suggested Citation

Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/ (Accessed: 04/08/2025).