OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Monilophytes (ferns): Leptosporangiate Ferns (true ferns): Polypodiales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Polypodium appalachianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polypodium appalachianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Polypodium appalachianum

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 014-01-001?:

Polypodium virginianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae

INCLUDED WITHIN Ferns of the Southeastern States (Small, 1938)

Polypodium virginianum

 

COMMON NAME:
Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8046

April        

Sori circular when immature, per Flora of North America.

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8065

April        

Sori midway between margin and midrib to nearly marginal, per Flora of North America.

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8072

April        

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8075

April        

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8084

April        

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8085

April        

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_8514

April        

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

JK Marlow    jkm060429_106

April    Macon County    NC

Nantahala National Forest: Wayah Ranger District

Nearly restricted to the Appalachian Mountains, per Weakley's Flora (2012).

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

JK Marlow    jkm060429_109

April    Macon County    NC

Nantahala National Forest: Wayah Ranger District

It is one parent of P. virginianum, per Weakley's Flora (2012).

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

JK Marlow    jkm140417_035

April    Sevier County    TN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

JK Marlow    jkm150424_788

April    Blount County    TN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Lobes with narrowed tips [vs. lobes with blunt tips in P. virginianum], per Peterson Field Guide to Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America.

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

JK Marlow    jkm150424_789

April    Blount County    TN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Blades widest near base [vs. evenly wide in P. virginianum], per Peterson Field Guide to Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America.

image of Polypodium appalachianum, Appalachian Rockcap Fern, Appalachian Polypody

Emily B. Sessa    ebspappalachianum_2532

July        

P. appalachianum & P. virginianum somewhat cryptic, and field id problematic, per Weakley's Flora (2015).

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Polypodium appalachianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Polypodium appalachianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Polypodium appalachianum

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 014-01-001?:
Polypodium virginianum   FAMILY Polypodiaceae

INCLUDED WITHIN Ferns of the Southeastern States (Small, 1938)
Polypodium virginianum

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

2064

Fern/Fern ally
Perennial

Habitat: Moist rocks at low to high elevations, especially in ravines, on north-facing outcrops, and in other moist sites, rarely epiphytic on tree trunks, per Weakley's Flora

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Common in NC Mountains, uncommon in Mountains of GA & SC (rare in Piedmont)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

LEAVES:
Evergreen
Pinnatifid
Leaves in linear rows on widely spreading and creeping rhizome

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME: