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Western Sword Fern

Ferns and Fern Allies

Western sword fern, Polystichum munitum, is an evergreen fern of the family Dryopteridaceae native to the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California, where it is one of the most abundant understory plants in coniferous rainforests. Its long, leathery fronds bear rows of narrow, sword-shaped leaflets each with a small thumb-like lobe at the base, and its evergreen foliage was used by Pacific Northwest Coast indigenous peoples for lining pits and wrapping food.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Photosynthetic Autotroph 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 1
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 3
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Scientific Name
Polystichum munitum 1
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 5
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Pteridophyta, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Western Sword Fern

In Biome

Temperate Coniferous Forest, Biomes
Source Plants For A Future: Polystichum munitum
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Canada

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

France

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Germany

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ireland

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Netherlands

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United Kingdom

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Polystichum munitum
Wikipedia
  • Wikidata Q2273822 (P225 taxon name)
  • lead sentence (diet), EntityId 316728
    Polystichum munitum, the western swordfern, is an evergreen perennial fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns in forested areas.
  • Lead
    Western swordfern is known to have locally naturalized in parts of Great Britain and Ireland.
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. NatureServe Explorer: Polystichum munitum
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Polypodiales
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392
"active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"
View the Source
5. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Polystichum munitum
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2651122, category field
Quote, GBIF taxon key 2651122, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
Wikidata: Western Sword Fern
  • Wikidata Q2273822, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Child Taxon Of: Pteridophyta, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Dryopteridaceae
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12480
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12480
"active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"
View the Source
Plants For A Future: Polystichum munitum
Plants For A FutureIn Biome: Temperate Coniferous Forest, Habitats
Quote, In Biome: Temperate Coniferous Forest, Habitats
There are two distinct varieties, var. munitum grows in moist coniferous woods, var. imbricans grows in rock crevices and rocky soils in dry coniferous soils ... Forms extensive colonies
View the Source
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