Participant Info

Species

Cryptogramma acrostichoides [Allosorus crispus var. acrostichoides] [Cryptogramma crispa subsp. acrostichoides]

Family

Pteridaceae

CommonName

American parsley fern, American rockbrake

Presence

yes

Status

native

EarliestDate

1937

LatestDate

2023

Ecosystem

montane, subalpine, tundra

Geobotanical

SSawatch, SSanjuans, NCristos

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

WildlifePreserves

Big Meadows Reservoir

Other Localities

PhotoRecords

YES Richard Haswell: Mineral Co, talus slope Big Meadows Reservoir 14 Aug 2017

Comments

American parsley fern has been vouchered fairly often from the Watershed, most commonly in the South San Juans and not yet in the Culebras. Rhizomes keep Cryptogramma acrostichoides secure in rock crevices and between rocks in talus slopes. The common name "parsley" derives from the shape of the sterile leaves; fertile leaves are linear with curled margins to protect the sporangia on the under side. The USA distribution covers all Western states, with uncommon occurrences in Arizona and New Mexico. The species follows the Rio Grande drainage only through the two northern counties of New Mexico.

Annotation