Polypodium hesperium is a species of fern known by the common name western polypody. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, and the Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico, where it grows in rocky habitat types.

Polypodium hesperium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Polypodiineae
Family:	Polypodiaceae
Genus:	Polypodium
Species:	P. hesperium
Binomial name
Polypodium hesperium Maxon
Synonyms
Polypodium vulgare var. hesperium (Maxon) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.

This is an allopolyploid species of hybrid origin, its parent species being Polypodium glycyrrhiza and Polypodium amorphum.

Description

This polypody anchors with a thin, scaly rhizome. It produces oblong leaves 25 to 35 centimetres (9.8 to 13.8 in) in maximum length and 7 in width. Each leaf is made up of many dull-pointed linear or lance-shaped segments which may be thin and membranous or firm and leathery in texture, and smooth or serrated on the edges. The underside of each leaf segment has a few brownish, reddish, or nearly black sori, which contain the spores.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polypodium hesperium.

• Jepson Manual Treatment: Polypodium hesperium
• Washington Burke Museum

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