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Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Anderson's Swordfern - Polystichum andersonii
Other Names:  Anderson's Hollyfern

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Native Species

Global Rank: G4
State Rank: S3S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 

External Links






State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Polystichum andersonii occurs where vegetation is dense, such as moist spruce-fir forests, avalanche chutes, along streams, and shrub thickets. It is documented from about 17 locations in western Montana, but known from several more locations in the Cabinet and Bitterroot Mountains. Though its habitat may be limited in Montana, populations are present and appear stable. It can grow as a sterile hybrid that develops large colonies through vegetative propagation by its bulblets.
  • Details on Status Ranking and Review
    Anderson's Swordfern (Polystichum andersonii) Conservation Status Review
    Review Date = 09/13/2017
    View State Conservation Rank Criteria
    Range Extent

    ScoreE - 5,000-20,000 sq km (~2,000-8,000 sq mi)

    Area of Occupancy

    ScoreD - 6-25 4-km2 grid cells

    Number of Populations

    ScoreB - 6 - 20

    Number of Occurrences or Percent Area with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity

    ScoreB - Very few (1-3) occurrences with excellent or good viability or ecological integrity

    Environmental Specificity

    ScoreC - Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce

    Threats

    ScoreD - Low

    CommentNo known threats.

 
General Description
Leaves arching, 20–70 cm long, commonly with 1 to several scaly, bulblets on central axis among upper pinnae. Leaf blade narrowly elliptic or lanceolate. Pinnae narrowly lanceolate, the lower deeply divided, 2–10 cm long with sharp-pointed lobes. Indusium with sparse marginal hairs (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native
 


Range Comments
In MT known only from Lincoln, Flathead and Ravalli counties; AK south to OR and MT (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 25

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat

Stewardship Responsibility

References
  • Literature Cited AboveLegend:   View Online Publication
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
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Citation for data on this website:
Anderson's Swordfern — Polystichum andersonii.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from