ヒメカナワラビ?オオキヨズミシダ?
Among the P. kruckebergii in a slightly more sheltered north-facing location were a couple of slightly larger & more robust plants, having much deeper divisions.
Probably P. kruckebergii just showing more of its P. lemmonii parentage? Or perhaps a hybrid with P. scopulinum? P. lemmonii is not currently known for this area, but the rock type is certainly appropriate.
Repeat visit to plant from last year: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131158067
Specimen collected by @peterzika this time
A couple of substantially larger plants, growing in fully sheltered overhangs, next to several P. kruckebergii. I'm tentatively calling these the same species by association, although they have rather more divided leaflets. They also seem to lack any distinct spines, making them look rather similar to P scopulinum. Perhaps just an environmental factor, growing in a shady sheltered location, as compared to their neighbours that are exposed to the sun & snow?
Repeat visit to plant from last year: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131420035
P. lemmonii or hybrid
Unsure on this one, but would lean towards P. kruckebergii over lemmonii.
Highly divided, but slightly pointed tips to the lobes. Slightly thicker texture, and very long narrow fronds with some bent in the middle (P lemmonii strikes me as more upright "feather-like" fronds). The frond in the background at top of the 3rd picture shows the pointed teeth that I'm tempted to call a good indicator of kruckebergii.
Ultramafic outcrop near treeline
Repeat visit to plant from last year: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131421656
Revisiting this plant from last year: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131423312
Attempting to blend in with the P. lemmonii
Probably P. munitum? Sunny south-facing slope under Arbutus
With several juvenile plants around the base
P. andersonii growing together with braunii, with the andersonii rooted just an inch or two below - thus appearing slightly in the background of the mix of fronds.
Lightly divided form immediately separates the andersonii fronds from its neighbor, and small bulblets also present.
Photos of the braunii plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183037502
Rather transparent scales at the base, with some larger ones
Grasshopper Mountain, Tulameen, BC, Canada
The unmistakable classic form of this species (if only they all looked like this!)
2023 Strannik Auckland Island Expedition
The proportions of the frond outline look rather like P. munitum, as compared to the typical almost diamond shape of P. braunii. Color & texture also different than most (but not all) of the braunii in the area. Not that I'm ever 100% confident with setigerum with my limited experience.
Compare with a P. braunii of similar size: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183042136
Growing with P. munitum, with both species in the first two pictures for direct comparison of the similar colour & texture. One frond with a damaged tip, creating a fresh sprout attempt that can look quite similar to a bulblet. Below center in last photo, with the rest of the plants being munitum - this one blends in much better than any andersonii or braunii would.
Potentially the same plant as photographed a few years ago, as it was the only prominent one along the trail:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12259714
Possible hybrid
Ultramafic outcrop near treeline, possible hybrid, near plants of Polystichum lonchitis, P. lemmonii, P. kruckebergii
It looks like similar small plants have been reported as W. ilvensis here in the far northwest, but definitely very different from the only ilvensis I have seen further south in the Rockies. Not sure how to distinguish from W. alpina, as it seems closer to the description of that species.
Robust, highly divided specimen
Probably. Some leaflets in the middle look almost divided enough for P. braunii, but the overall look (texture, color etc) is very different from the numerous nearby braunii (rather closer to andersonii).
Shown with P. andersonii in the background (on the steeper bank) in the last photo.
Probably.
Back plant in last photo; overall form nearly identical to the plant in front of it from a distance - this front plant is P. andersonii (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182584239)
Looking more closely, this plant is more divided than the P. andersonii, and rather close to P. braunii.
No bulblets.
Below-left of center in first photo, showing several Polystichum species.
Very distinct from the others, with the secondary divisions creating a nearby perfect rectangular grid.
P. lonchitis upper left (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182584396)
P. braunii lower left (this observation)
P. andersonii lower & mid right (mid plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182584239)
P. setigerum top, slightly right of center probably
This one stood out from a distance, with overall form strongly like P. lonchitis, but with noticeable toothed leaflets.
Very glossy and stiff leaflets, proportionally quite long.
The pressed specimen however strikes me quite differently. The glossiness is gone now, and without the tilt to the leaflets they look much more crowded and not as long & thin.
Not sure about the spores, but they look to have matured normally?
My original thought had been a hybrid of P. lonchitis x kruckebergii, but I'm less sure now.
If it isn't a hybrid, I would have called it P. lonchitis based on the general appearance in the field (perhaps this species can have occasional toothiness like munitum?), but based on the pressed specimen I would go with P. kruckebergii instead based on the crowdedness and rather deep divisions.
Growing on rock outcrop with several large clumps of P. kruckebergii (and lemmonii not far away), but lonchitis was also common throughout the area with scattered plants widely distributed.
Edit...
Repeat visit in 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183925296
And Peter Zika's record: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182937780
This plant, along with a long discussion of its possible ID, can also be seen in the following observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131158067
Previously observed on August, 5.
At first glance similar to a Bracken Fern - but not a Bracken Fern (Pteridium) species with which I am familiar, or not a Bracken at all.
The 4th photo shows details of the shape of the indusium (I was most fortunate that a single leaflet proffered its abaxial surface (underside)).
In the mist zone behind the falls, and inaccessible.
NOTE #1: a 5th photo added, a close-up that was cropped from the first photo
NOTE#2: Photos 6, 7, 8, 9 snapped and added 12 August 2021. These show crisp details of the sori and fronds.
NOTE#3: see separate observation of another group of this fern higher up on the cliff, just to the left of the falls; the photos are not as crisp as my camera is not equipped for long-distance telephoto photos. All the same, the details (albeit a bit more grainy) are there. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90888195
NOTE#4: 14 August 2021; photo 10 added - detail of grooved upper/adaxial surface of stipe; adaxial groove appears continuous into branches from main stipe; photo 10 cropped from photo8
2ND PLANT, DISTANT LOCATION
11 OCTOBER 2021
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97995288
No sori were present on the lower surface of the frond.
I think this is the same fern species I observed at Dry Falls: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90300543
Black Rock Mountain State Park, Georgia
Mud Creek Falls, Georgia
A tiny fern puzzle, and perhaps not worth the bother. I notice silvery hairs glittering on the base of the young fronds. Their presence suggests either Woodsia obtusa or Dryopteris intermedia. The pointed lobes of the leaflets suggest D. intermedia. Perhaps there are more clues in the pattern of leaflet venation?
Mud Creek Falls, Georgia
Why Dryopteris carthusiana ?
Traits not in favor of Dryopteris carthusiana
If I allow that short glandular hairs need not be present to assign a Dryopteris to D. intermedia, then this individual edges closer to that identification, albeit with the problem of the inner-most basal-most acroscopic and basioscopic sub-leaflet morphology of this individual
Polystichum pseudostenophyllum
tilt_angle_deg= -23.1 /
roll_angle_deg=0.7