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Home , Athyrium distentifolium, Botrychium campestre, Botrychium paradoxum, Botrychium pinnatum, Cystopteridaceae, Cystopteris montana

AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE AND ALLIES (PTERIDOPHYTA) OF ALBERTA

Compiled and writen by Linda Kershaw & Lorna Allen

April 2019

© Linda J. Kershaw & Lorna Allen This key was compiled using informaton primarily from Moss (1983), Packer & Gould (2018), Douglas et. al. (2000) and the Flora of (2008-2010). follows VASCAN (Brouillet, 2015). Please let us know if there are ways in which the key can be improved. The families are arranged systematcally. The 2017 S-ranks of rare (S1; S1S2; S2; S2S3; SU, according to ACIMS, 2017) are noted in superscript (S1;S2;SU) afer the species names. For more details, go to the ACIMS web site.

PTERIDOPHYTA Ferns & Fern Allies Key to Families 01a simple, stalkless, grass-like or scale-like, 1-2 mm wide ...... 02 01b Leaves () usually lobed or divided, with stalks (stpes), variously shaped, ≥5 mm wide . 05

2a 02a Leaves onion-like, basal and slender with wide, sheathing bases, 5-15 cm long; stems thick, short and inconspicuous (covered by bases); cases (sporangia) embedded in the upper/inner side of the leaf base ...... (p. 10) 02b Leaves scale-like, <1.5 cm long; stems slender and conspicuous; spore cases in cones (cone scales sometmes resembling leaves) or in the axils of stem leaves ...... 03 03a Stems usually hollow, conspicuously jointed; leaves scale-like, in sheath-like rings (whorls) at 3a stem joints; spore cases on the underside of fat, round, umbrella-like scales in cones at stem tps ...... (p. 11) 03b Stems solid, not jointed; leaves strap-like, spirally arranged or paired (opposite); spore cases in the 4a axils of triangular to strap-like cone scales or in leaf axils ...... 04 04a 5-25 cm tall; leaves mostly strap-like or awl- shaped, 5-10 mm long (triangular to lance-shaped and 2-4 mm long in ); cones (when 4b present) cylindrical; all similar ...... (p. 7) 04b Plants 1-5(7) cm tall; leaves lance-shaped, 1-4 mm long; cones usually ± 4-sided/angled; spores of 2 types (small and large) . . . . Selaginellaceae (p. 9) 05a In colonies from spreading rootstocks in ponds and lake edges; leaves with 4 leafets at the tp of a long stalk (like a four-leaved clover), ofen foatng in water; spores in a hard, bean-like structures 5a (sporocarps) on a short stalk (ofen hidden among the leaves) .... Marsileaceae - Marsilea vestta 05b Plants and leaves not as above; spores in spore cases on green or modifed leaves ...... 06 6a 06a Spore cases 1-1.5 mm wide, in grape-like clusters on specialized, fertle leaves; sterile leaves below fertle blades on same stalk ...... (p. 13) 06b Spore cases tny (<1 mm wide), in dot-like clusters (sori) on the lower surface or along edges of green leaves or specialized fertle leaves ...... [Ferns - of Moss, 1983] 07 7a 07a Leaves of 2 distnctly diferent types: green, without spore cases (sterile) and brown (when mature), with spore cases (fertle) ...... 08 07b Leaves all similar, not of 2 distnct types (except Pellaea gastonyi, with fertle leaves distnctly 7b longer than sterile leaves) ...... 09

4 08a Plants ≤20 cm tall, in small clumps, on rocky sites in the mountains or neAB (Canadian Shield); fertle leaves longer than sterile leaves ...... (in part) - Cryptogramma (p. 17) 08b Plants 50-150 cm tall, forming colonies from coarse , on moist sites in the boreal forest; fertle leaves shorter than sterile leaves ...... [, in part] 8b ...... Mateuccia struthiopteris 8a 09a Spore clusters on the leaf edges, usually under down-rolled margins, elongated ...... 10 09b Spore clusters set in from the leaf edges (if near the edge, then round) ...... 12 10a Spore clusters under down-rolled leaf edges, kidney shaped, separate (not in a contnuous strip); leaf segments fan-shaped ...... 10a ...... Pteridaceae (in part) (p. 17) . . . . .Adiantum aleutcum [Adiantum pedatum] 10b Spore clusters in a contnuous strip along the leaf edge; leaf segments not fan-shaped ...... 11 11a 11a Plants 30-300 cm tall; leaves 2X pinnately divided, ± triangular, 20-60 cm wide ...... Dennstaedtaceae - Pteridium aquilinum 11b Plants mostly <30 cm tall; leaves 1-2X pinnately divided, <10 cm wide ...... Pteridaceae (in part) Myriopteris; Pellaea (p. 17) 11b 12a Leaves 1X pinnately divided, lobed or smooth- 13a edged ...... 13 12b Leaves 2-4X pinnately divided ...... 15 13a Leafets (pinnae) lobed, egg-shaped, 3-7 x 2-5 mm; leaves 5-10(15) cm long ...... - Asplenium viride ...... [Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum] 13b Leafets smooth-edged or toothed, narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, >10 mm long; leaves (5)10-40 cm long ...... 14

14a 14a Leafets rounded at the tp, smooth-edged (without spines) ...... Polypodiaceae (p. 16) 14b Leafets pointed at the tp, edged with spines ...... Dryopteridaceae (in part) (p. 21) ...... Polystchum lonchits 15a Leaf stalks (1)1.5-2(3) tmes as long as the blades; leaves divided into 3 ± equal parts, with each of the 2 lowest leafets ≈ the remaining upper part of the leaf ...... (p. 19) ...... [Dryopteridaceae, in part] 15b Leaf stalks usually much <2 tmes the length of the blade; lowest pair of leafets gradually reduced upwards (not much larger than those above) . . 16

14b 15a

5 16a Small tufed plants, mostly <20 cm tall; short- creeping scaly rhizomes bear small tufs to dense tussocks of leaves; lower leafets somewhat remote ...... 17 16b Larger plants, generally >20 cm tall; plants tufed

→ or in small scatered tufs or single leaves; lower leafets not remote ...... 18 17a Leaf stalk bases persistent afer blades are shed;

17b indusium disc- or star-shaped (→), atached under → and obscured by spore clusters . . . .Woodsiaceae 17a . . . . [Dryopteridaceae, in part] - (p. 20) 17b Leaf stalk bases disintegratng when blades are 18a shed; indusium hood-like (→), atached at the side and curved up over the spore clusters ...... Cystopteridaceae [Dryopteridaceae, in part] ...... (p. 19) 18a Lowest pair of leafets pointng downwards; lower leaf surface with conspicuous, nearly transparent hairs on the veins and midrib ...... - Phegopteris connectlis 18b Leaves not as above...... 19 19a 19a Indusia ofen absent, when present elongated, fap-like (atached along 1 edge) and fringed or toothed ...... (p. 18) - 19b Indusia present (sometmes small and soon shrivelling) rounded or kidney-shaped, atached in the hollow of the inner side, not fringed ...... Dryopteridaceae (in part) (p. 21) - Dryopteris

19b

6 LYCOPODIACEAE Clubmoss Family Key to Genera 01a Stems clumped, without horizontal runners (rootstocks); spore clusters (sporangia) in the axils of unmodifed leaves scattered along the length of the stem, not in cones (strobili); spores pitted or grooved; tiny sexual plants (gemmae) often present among the upper leaves ...... 01b Stems spread along horizontal runners; spore clusters in the axils of small, modifed, leaves (sporophylls) in cones (strobili); spores wrinkled or with net-like ridges; gemmae absent ...... 02 02a Cones (strobili) erect, on stalks with closely 2a 1a spaced, normal-sized leaves; spores wrinkled; plants in wetlands ...Lycopodiella inundata ...... [ inundatum] 02b Cones with or without stalks, the stalks (when present) with tiny, widely spaced leaves; spores with net-like ridges; plants mainly in dry uplands ...... 03 03a Uppermost shoots (including leaves) 2-6 mm across, 4-sided to fattened (rounded in D. sitchense); leaves mostly in 4-5 vertical rows, overlapping (except in D. sitchense); cone 3a stalks (if present) branched in 2s ...... Diphasiastrum 03b Uppermost shoots (including leaves) 5-12 mm across, rounded; leaves in ≥6 vertical rows (ranks), not overlapping; cone stalks (if present) alternately branched, appearing to have 1 main branch ...... 04 4b 4a 04a Erect stems few to many branched, tree-like; trailing stems below ground ...... Dendrolycopodium dendroideum ...... [Lycopodium dendroideum ...... Lycopodium obscurum] 04b Erect stems simple or few-branched; trailing stems above ground ...... Lycopodium

7 → DIPHASIASTRUM Groundcedar 01a Plants strongly fattened, (10)15-35 cm tall; cones on 1-8 cm stalks ...... Diphasiastrum complanatum 2b ...... [Lycopodium complanatum] 01b Plants cylindrical or 4-sided, 5-10(15) cm tall; cones without stalks (rarely with stalks ≤1 cm long) ...... 02 1a 2a 02a Leaves all ± the same shape; stems cylindrical ...... ...... [Lycopodium sitchense] 02b Leaves of 1 row different from the others, shaped like a bricklayer’s trowel (→); stems 4-sided ...... ...... [Lycopodium alpinum]

------

1a HUPERZIA Firmoss 01a Largest leaves lance-shaped and widest above mid-leaf; shoots 12-20 cm tall; mainly in shaded forests near streams ...... Huperzia occidentalis S2 01b Largest leaves lance-shaped and widest below mid-leaf or with sides ± parallel; shoots mostly 8-15 cm tall; mainly on rocky cliffs and 2a talus slopes, sometimes in open (non-treed) wetlands ...... 02 02a Shoots with annual constrictions; tiny sexual plantlets (gemmae) in 1 pseudo-whorl at the 2b stem tips ...... Huperzia selago ...... [Lycopodium selago, in part] 02b Shoots without annual constrictions; gemmae in 1-3 pseudo-whorls at the stem tips or scattered throughout mature shoots ...... Huperzia continentalis [Huperzia haleakalae ...... Lycopodium selago, in part] ------

1a LYCOPODIUM Clubmoss 01a Leaves tipped with a white, 1-4 mm long hair; cones on long stalks . . ...... [] 01b Leaves without hair tips; cones ± stalkless ...... Lycopodium annotinum

1b

8 SELAGINELLACEAE Spikemoss Family Spikemoss 1a Plants forming small mats; leaves lance- shaped, soft and feshy, shed by autumn, well-spaced, edged with a small spines but no bristle-tip; cones (strobili) conspicuous, ± cylindrical ...... Selaginella selaginoides 01b Plants tufted or sprawling and forming large mats; leaves narrowly Iance-shaped, stiff, persisting through winter, crowded, edged with tiny hairs and bristle-tipped; cones relatively inconspicuous, 4-angled/sided ...... 02 02a Leaves in rings (whorls) of 4, tipped with a 0.2-0.45 mm bristle, abruptly attached to the stem (rarely slightly extended down the stem), different in color from the stem (seen when leaves are detached); stems loosely branched; cones 10-45 mm long, often paired; Waterton Lakes NP ...... Selaginella wallacei S1 02b Leaves in rings of (4)5-6, tipped with a 0.5-2 mm bristle, with lower edges extending down 1a 2a the stem (decurrent; remnants of the bases left when leaves are detached), similar in color to the stem; stems densely branched; cones 2-30 mm long, single ...... 03 03a Main stems usually radially symmetric with leaves; leaf bases symmetric, wedge-shaped; ne ¼ of AB ...... Selaginella rupestris 03b Main stems with slightly different upper and 3a lower sides, the upper leaves smaller than the lower leaves; leaf bases asymmetric, attached to the stem at an angle; s ½ of AB ...... 04 04a Leaves tipped with a conspicuous, (1)1.25-1.9 mm long, hairy bristle; leaves usually edged with 0.1-0.2 mm hairs (cilia); spore-bearing leaves (sporophylls) fringed with hairs for their entire length ...... Selaginella densa 4a 04b Leaves tipped with a tiny, 0.4-1.25 mm long, smooth or slightly hairy bristle; leaves edged with 0.02-0.07(0.15) mm hairs; spore-bearing leaves toothed or fringed for part (not all) of their length ...... 05 05a Spore-bearing leaves triangular-egg-shaped, keeled at tip and abruptly squared at base (in profle), upper 3/4 edged with short hairs or teeth; bristle usually yellowish; alpine habitats ...... Selaginella standleyi ...... [Selaginella densa var. standleyi] 05b Spore-bearing leaves narrow egg-shaped to lance-shaped, gradually tapered or slightly 5a keeled at the tip, not squared at the base (in profle), edged with short hairs or teeth on the lower 1/2 but hairless near the tip; bristle 5b usually whitish transparent (rarely yellowish on old leaves); low elevation to alpine habitats ...... Selaginella scopulorum ..... [Selaginella densa var. scopulorum]

9 ISOETACEAE Quillwort Family

ISOETES [ISOËTES] Quillwort 01a Leaves stiff, persisting for >1 year (evergreen), dark green; spore-cluster (sporangium) wall unpigmented; megaspores (0.4)0.5-0.7 mm, with rough spines or sharp ridges but smooth on the middle ridge (girdle); microspores smooth or warty; Pyramid L, Jasper NP ...... occidentalis S1 01b Leaves soft or stiff, shed each year (deciduous), bright green (sometimes red-tinged); spore- cluster (sporangium) wall brown streaked; spores various ...... 02 02a Megaspores 0.3-0.4(0.5) mm, with low warts or short crests and an obscure middle ridge (girdle); microspores fnely spiny; alpine lakes S1 1a in Waterton Lakes NP . . lsoetes bolanderi 02b Megaspores 0.4-0.7 mm, densely spiny/warty; microspores smooth or warty ...... 03 03a Plants not self-supporting out of water, faccid/ pliant; megaspores 0.4-0.55 mm, with long, 2a thin spines that are all similar; microspores smooth; neAB and Cameron Hills...... lsoetes echinospora S2 03b Plants self-supporting out of water, rigid/stiff; megaspores (0.4)0.5-0.6 mm, covered in short spines that become shorter and denser around the middle ridge; microspores spiny; Pyramid L Jasper NP ...... Isoetes maritima S1

3a

3b

10 EQUISETACEAE Horsetail Family Horsetail 01a Stems unbranched (sometimes with a few random branchlets) ...... 02 01b Stems with successive rings (whorls) of branches ...... 10 02a Stems (20)30-100(120) cm tall, 3-8 mm wide, with (12)15-40 ridges; sheaths 4-10 x 4-10 mm usually >4.0 mm long ...... 03 02b Stems 10-30(60) cm tall, 1-3(4) mm wide, with 3-15(18) ridges; sheaths various 4-9 x 2-5 mm ...... 05 03a Stems soft, readily fattened; teeth present on all sheaths, brownish black, sometimes with 1a 1b a narrow, semi-transparent edge; cone tips rounded. . . . . Equisetum fuviatile (in part) 03b Stems stiff, not easily fattened; teeth missing from many/all sheaths, when present dry, thin and semi-transparent throughout or in a broad band along the edges; cone tips round or pointed ...... 04 04a Cone tips tapered to a sharp, slender point; sheaths cylindrical, almost as wide as tall, 3a 2a 2b usually with 2 continuous black bands, and a greyish white band between, with some persistent teeth ...... 04b Cone tips rounded; sheaths somewhat funnel- shaped, taller than wide, mostly green with 1 black band (often as a row of dots), with short- lived (deciduous) teeth (except on sheaths near the cones) ..... 05a Stems frm, evergreen; cones tipped with a sharp point ...... 06 05b Stems soft, dying back at the end of summer; cone tips rounded ...... 07

4a 4b 06a Stems 0.5-1 mm wide, much bent/zigzagged; sheaths with 3 teeth . 06b Stems 1-2(3) mm wide, straight or slightly curved; sheaths with >3 teeth ......

6a 6b

11 07a Stems green . . (in part) 07b Stems not green ...... 08 08a Stem sheath teeth reddish, papery, joined in 3-4 large groups ...... (in part) 08b Stem sheath teeth black or brown, frm, separate or joined in >4 small groups .....09

7a 09a Stem sheaths (2)3-6 mm wide at the mouth, 8a their teeth separate with narrow midveins and broad semi-transparent edges; stems with pores (stomata), eventually becoming green and branched, persisting through the summer ...... (in part) 09b Stem sheaths (3)5-10 mm wide at the mouth, their teeth often joined and with broad midveins 9a and scarcely paler edges; upper sheaths without bud-like outgrowths; stems without stomata, never branching, soon withering ...... (in part) 10a Branches branched again; stem sheaths 9b green below, reddish brown above, with teeth joined in 3-4 broad papery lobes ...... Equisetum sylvaticum (in part) 10b Branches simple/unbranched; stem sheaths not as above ...... 11

10a 11a Lower branches with basal segments (→) longer than the adjacent stem sheath (in length); plants never bearing cones ...... Equisetum arvense (in part) 11b Lower branches with basal segments (→) equalling or shorter than the adjacent stem 11a sheath; plants often bearing cones ...... 12

→ → 12a Branch sheaths 3-toothed; branches solid ...... Equisetum pratense (in part) 12b Branch sheaths 4- to 6-toothed; branches 11b; 12b hollow, with a central cavity ...... 13 13a Stem sheaths 6- to 8-toothed; central cavity of branches very small ...... Equisetum palustre (in part) 13b Stem sheaths 10- to 30-toothed; central cavity of branches large ...... Equisetum fuviatile (in part)

12a

13a 13b

12 OPHIOGLOSSACEAE Addertongue Family Key to Genera 01a Leaf blades 0-2X pinnately divided, mostly oblong to lance-shaped, 2-10(20) cm long ...... 01b Leaf blades 3-5X pinnately divided, broadly triangular, (5)12-25 cm long ...... 02 02a Leaf blade (trophophore) thin, herbaceous, dying back in autumn, joined to the spore- bearing branch (sporophore) well above ground on a common stalk ...... virginianus ...... [Botrychium virginianum] 02b Leaf blade thick, leathery, persisting through winter (evergreen), joined to the spore-bearing 1a branch at ground level, without a noticeable common stalk ......

2a BOTRYCHIUM Moonwort 01a Plants with 2 spore-bearing blades, leafy (vegetative) blade absent ...... 02 01b Plants with 1 leafy blade (rarely with spores on lowest lobes) and 1 spore-bearing blade . .03 2b 02a Spore-bearing blades <10(15) cm tall, ± equal ------in height and without fattened segments; Waterton Lakes NP and Cypress Hills ...... Botrychium paradoxum S1 02b Spore-bearing blades mostly 10-20 cm tall, of unequal heights and with fattened segments 2b bearing spore clusters along the edges; endemic to Waterton Lakes NP...... Botrychium x watertonense S1 2a 03a Leaf blade 2X pinnately divided/lobed ....04 03b Leaf blade undivided (entire) or 1X pinnately divided ...... 10

04a Leaf blade triangular, divided into 3 main parts; leafets and sub-leafets (pinnules) long and narrow ...... Botrychium lanceolatum 04b Leaf blade egg-shaped to oblong, with 1 main axis; leafets and sub-leafets triangular to long and narrow ...... 05

4a 05a Leaf blade tipped with a distinctively broad lobe; lowest leafets pinnately lobed but upper leafets not lobed...... Botrychium simplex S2 (in part) 05b Leaf blade without a distinctively broad lobe at the tip; lower and upper leafets usually 5a pinnately lobed ...... 06

13 06a Leaf blade 2-4X as long as its stalk; lowermost leafets sometimes with spore clusters; Waterton Lakes NP and Cypress Hills ...... Botrychium pedunculosum S1 06b Leaf blade >4X as long as its stalk; leafets rarely with spore clusters ...... 07 07a Leafets many-lobed, at ±90˚ to the main stem; lowest leafets symmetrical, without exaggerated lower lobes...... Botrychium pinnatum 7a 07b Leafets few-lobed, angled upwards at <90˚ to the stem; lowest leafets asymmetrical with 6a 8a exaggerated lower lobes...... 08 08a Lowest leafet pair distinctly larger than the upper pairs . Botrychium ‘michiganense’ SU 08b Lowest leafet pair = or only slightly larger than the upper pairs ...... 09 09a Leafets triangular-egg-shaped; basal leafet pair elongated .....Botrychium hesperium 09b Leafets oblong; basal leafets not elongated; neAB ...... Botrychium matricariifolium S1 10a Leafets broad, overlapping, semi-circular, occasionally lobed but not conspicuously scalloped (sometimes slightly scalloped in young plants) ...... 11 10b Leafets separate (occasionally overlapping), if 9b semi-circular then conspicuously scalloped 12 9a 11a Spore-bearing blade with a stalk ≤ the fertile portion and with wide-spreading branches; leaf blade narrowly triangular to egg-shaped; lowest leafets usually stalked and longer than the next pair ...... Botrychium lunaria ...... [Botrychium lunaria, in part] 11b Leaf blade oblong to narrowly egg-shaped; lowest leafets not stalked, not > the next pair; spore-bearing blade with stalks longer than the fertile portion and branches strongly angled upwards ...Botrychium neolunaria ...... [Botrychium lunaria, in part] 11a 11b 12a Leafets oblong to weakly fan-shaped, mostly lobed ...... 13 12b Leafets fan-shaped, smooth edged to scalloped (occasionally with some lobed). .14

13a Central axis/stalk of leaf blade (rachis) wide, up to 1/3 of the blade width; leafets diamond- shaped to weakly fan-shaped, shallowly to deeply lobed ...... Botrychium campestre 13b Central axis/stalk of leaf blade not noticeably wide; leafets slender with ± parallel sides, usually deeply lobed; 2 disjunct locations in sw and ecAB ...... Botrychium lineare S1 13b 14a Leafets scalloped or toothed ...... 15 14b Leafets smooth edged, occasionally lobed but 13a not scalloped or toothed ...... 16

14 15a Leafets narrowly fan-shaped, both edges strongly angled towards the leaf tip, usually clearly toothed or torn; lowest leafets often with spore clusters . Botrychium ascendens 15b Leafets broadly fan-shaped to ± circular, edges spreading to weakly angled upwards, shallowly scalloped (usually) to ± toothed; lowest leafets without spore clusters ...... Botrychium crenulatum [Botrychium dusenii] 16a Leafets ± round, no abrupt change in angle between sides and tip; stalk of mature spore- 15a 15b bearing blade longer than the leafy blade; lowest branches of spore cluster ± spreading, twisted so sporangia point out/down; Conklin, 16a Banff, Jasper areas . .Botrychium tunux S1S2 16b Leafets ± fan-shaped, with an abrupt change in angle between the sides and tip; stalk of the mature spore-bearing blade usually shorter than the leafy blade; lowest branches and distribution not as above ...... 17 17a Leaf blades single or occasionally ≥2, tipped with a distinctively broad lobe (unlobed when 17a young); leafets often overlapping ...... Botrychium simplex S2 (in part) 17b Leafy blades single, not tipped with a broad lobe; leafets rarely overlapping ...... 18 18a Leaf blade triangular-egg-shaped, stalkless 18a to short-stalked; spore-bearing blade 2X pinnately divided, 1X as long as the leafy (sterile) blade ... Botrychium spathulatum 18b Leafy blade oblong, clearly stalked; spore- bearing blade 1X pinnately divided, 1.2-4X as long as the leafy blade ...... 19 19a Leafets bluish green with a pale waxy coating, shallowly lobed, the lowest pair uneven; spore- bearing blade 1.5-4X as long as the leaf blade, with a stalk ≤3/4 the length of the leaf blade; spore-bearing branches angled upwards, overlapping, mature in late July ...... Botrychium pallidum S2 19b Leafets dull green, without a waxy coating, smooth edged to shallowly scalloped, the 19b 19a lowest pair ± even; spore-bearing blade 1.5------2.2X as long as the leaf blade, with a stalk ≥ the length of the leaf blade; spore-bearing branches spreading, not overlapping, mature in late August ....Botrychium minganense SCEPTRIDIUM Grapefern 01a Leafets undivided on the upper 1/4-1/2, the uppermost leafet much larger than the side leafets; neAB ..... ...... [Botrychium oneidense] S1 01b Leafets all divided to the tip, the uppermost leafet equaling or slightly larger than the side leafets ...... Sceptridium multifdum 1a 1b ...... [Botrychium multifdum]

15 POLYPODIACEAE Polypody Family Polypody 01a Spore dots (sori) without hair-like structures 1a (paraphyses/sporangiasters) beneath the spores; rootstock scales usually smooth- edged and symmetric; extreme swAB ...... Polypodium hesperium S1 01b Spore dots with numerous, dark, hair-like structures beneath the spores; rootstock scales usually coarse-toothed and twisted near the tip; ne and nwAB ...... 02 02a Rootstock scales light brown or strongly two- 2a colored; leaves (3.5)4-7 cm wide; hair-like structures in spore dots mostly tipped with glands; Canadian Shield, neAB ...... Polypodium virginianum S1 02b Rootstock scales uniformly dark brown or with obscurely lighter edges; leaves 1-4 cm 2b wide; hair-like structures in spore dots mostly without glands; Canadian Shield and Boreal Forest in neAB ..... Polypodium sibiricum

16 PTERIDACEAE Maidenhair Family Key to Genera 1a Spores borne under down-rolled edges of distinct leaf lobes; leafet veins prominent, branching in 2s, ± parallel near their tips; 1a Crowsnest Pass to Waterton Lakes NP ..... Adiantum aleuticum S2 [Adiantum pedatum] 01b Spores on lower leaf surfaces or on smooth (not lobed) edges; leafet veins obscure (usually), pinnately branched, not parallel .02 2a 02a Leaves of 2 types (dimorphic); fertile leaves larger, with narrow leafets and down-rolled edges; sterile leaves with fat edges; upper leaf stalks green to straw-colored, ± hairless; 3a mature spores usually yellow Cryptogramma 02b Leaves all similar (monomorphic); upper leaf stalks brown/black, if paler, then hairy; mature 3b spores brown/black (rarely yellow) ...... 03 ------03a Leaves hairless beneath; upper leafets ≥5 mm long ...... Pellaea 03b Leaves densely woolly beneath; upper leafets <5 mm long .....Myriopteris [Cheilanthes] CRYPTOGRAMMA Rockbrake 01a Leaves densely tufted, from short rootstocks; sterile leaves frm, persisting over winter; leaf stalk bases pale, with many reddish-brown scales ≈ 3 mm long ...... Cryptogramma acrostichoides 1b 1a 01b Leaves scattered along slender, creeping rootstocks; sterile leaves delicate, dying and ------shed each fall; leaf stalk bases reddish-brown, with a few golden scales ≈ 2 mm long ...... Cryptogramma stelleri MYRIOPTERIS [CHEILANTHES] Lipfern 01a Leaf-blades with strap-shaped scales ≤0.1-0.4 mm wide on underside of central stalk and midveins; Waterton Lakes NP ....Myriopteris gracillima S1 ...... [Cheilanthes gracillima] 01b Leaf-blades with conspicuous, ≤0.4-1.5 mm wide, lance- to egg-shaped scales (do not confuse dehisced spore clusters with scales) ...... 1a 1b ....Myriopteris gracilis [Cheilanthes feei] ------PELLAEA Cliffbrake 1b 01a Leaves sparsely woolly beneath near midvein, of 2 types, with fertile leaves much longer than the sterile leaves; leaf stalks purplish black, long-woolly; primarily front ranges, Banff NP . Pellaea gastonyi S2 [Pellaea atropurpurea] 01b Leaves ± hairless beneath (sometimes a few hair-like scales near midrib), all similar with brownish, ± hairless stalks . Pellaea glabella 1a

17 ATHYRIACEAE [DRYOPTERIDACEAE, in part] 1a Ladyfern Family ATHYRIUM Ladyfern 01a Spore dots (sori) elongate or hooked, midway between the leaf edge and midvein; indusia well-developed; leaves (fronds) diamond- shaped to lance-shaped, widest above mid- leaf, (18)25-90(110) x(6)10-30 cm; lowland 1b plants of wooded/shrubby sites ...... Athyrium flix-femina 01b Spore dots round, near the leaf edge; indusia absent (usually) or tiny; leaves narrowly diamond-shaped to nearly linear, 15-30 x 3-5 cm; alpine plants, Waterton Lakes NP ...... Athyrium distentifolium S1 [Athyrium alpestre ; Athyrium americanum]

18 CYSTOPTERIDACEAE [DRYOPTERIDACEAE, in part] Bladderfern Family Key to Genera 01a Indusia present, attached to the side and arching over the spores; leaves saw-toothed ...... Cystopteris 01b Indusia absent; spore clusters round; leaves smooth-edged or scalloped 1a 1b CYSTOPTERIS Bladderfern 01a Leaves tufted, from thick, unbranched ------rootstocks; leaf stalks shorter than the blades; leaf blades lance-shaped, 2-3 times longer than wide ...... 01b Leaves scattered along slender, branched rootstocks; leaf stalks longer than the blades; leaf blades triangular, length ≈ width ...... Cystopteris

GYMNOCARPIUM Oakfern 1b 1a 01a Leaves stiff, glandular beneath; 2 lower ------leafets (pinnae) ±1/2 as long as the rest of the leaf; leaf stalk and central axis (rachis) dull, glandular .. Gymnocarpium continentale S2 1a ...... [Gymnocarpium jessoense] 01b Leaves delicate, not glandular beneath; 2 lower leafets ± as long as the rest of the leaf; leaf stalk and central axis lustrous, ± without glands ...... 02 02a Leaf blades 3-14 cm long; lowest sub-leafets of the 2 lower leafets mostly stalkless and ± equal in length, smooth-edged to slightly scalloped; lowest sub-leafets of the main upper leafet 1/3-1X as long as the lowest sub- leafets of the 2 lower leafets ...... 02b Leaf blades 8-24 cm long; lowest sub-leafets of the 2 lower leafets short stalked, markedly 2b unequal in length, slightly lobed to scalloped; lowest sub-leafets of the main upper leafet <1/4X as long as the lowest sub-leafets of the 2 lower leafets Gymnocarpium disjunctum

2a

19 WOODSIACEAE [DRYOPTERICACEAE, in part] Cliff-fern Family

WOODSIA Woodsia 01a Leaf stalks with a small, dark, swollen joint near the base, breaking evenly and leaving persistent bases of similar length; leaf blades without glands; indusia disc-shaped, with dark, hair-like segments curved around the spore clusters ...... 02 01b Leaf stalks not jointed, breaking unevenly and leaving persistent bases of uneven length; leaf blades sometimes with glands; indusia star-shaped, usually covered/hidden by spore clusters ...... 03 02a Leaf stalks straw-yellow or green (dark at the base only), without scales or hairs above the joint; blades 5-12 mm wide, hairless; indusia of 5-8 hair-like segments, slightly longer than the spore clusters; Rockies, north from Banff NP ...... Woodsia glabella S2 02b Leaf stalks brown, with scales and hairs above 1a 1b the joint; blades 12-35 mm wide, hairy; indusia with 10-20 hair-like segments, conspicuously longer than the spore clusters ...... Woodsia ilvensis 03a Leaf stalks easily broken; leaves with whitish, many-celled, jointed hairs along the midrib; indusia with broad lobes irregularly torn into slender segments .....Woodsia scopulina 03b Leaf stalks pliable, not easily broken; leaves sometimes with tiny glands but without jointed hairs; indusia with hair-like segments 2a 2b resembling strings of pearls (moniliform) ...... Woodsia oregana

3b 3a

20 DRYOPTERIDACEAE Shieldfern Family Key to Genera 01a Indusia round, attached at their center (peltate); spore dots (sori) round; leaf stalks with ≥3 vascular bundles at the base; leaves 1X pinnately divided, edged with conspicuous spines ...... Polystichum lonchitis 01b Indusia mostly kidney-shaped (sometimes roundish or elongated) or absent, attached at the hollow (sinus) on one side; spore dots round or elongated; leaf stalks with ≥2 vascular bundles at the base; leaves (1)2-3X pinnately divided, mostly edged with small, often spine- tipped teeth ...... Dryopteris

DRYOPTERIS Shieldfern 01a Leaves (fronds) 2-20 cm long, fragrant with aromatic glands; indusia crowded, often overlapping; plants of dry, rocky slopes 1b (usually); foothills, N Rockies + Canadian Shield ...... Dryopteris fragrans S2 1a 01b Leaves (10)20-100 cm long, not fragrant, ------usually without glands; indusia separate (not overlapping); woodland plants (usually) ...02 02a Leaves 2-3X pinnately divided/lobed at the base; indusia <1 mm wide ...... 03 02b Leaves 2X pinnately divided/lobed at the base; indusia ±1 mm wide ...... 04 03a Lowest pair of sub-leafets (pinnules) similar; leaves broadly lance-shaped; leaf-stalk scales 1a uniformly colored ...... Dryopteris carthusiana 03b Lowest 2 sub-leafets notably unequal; leaves 3a triangular-egg-shaped; leaf-stalk scales dark in the middle and paler near the edges ...... Dryopteris expansa ...... [Dryopteris assimilis] 3b 04a Leaf stalks <1/4 as long as the blades; leafets ± uniform, lance-shaped (often narrowly), up to 8-18 cm long; leaf scales a mix of broad and hair-like; Kananaskis to Waterton ...... Dryopteris flix-mas S1S2 04b Leaf stalks 1/4-1/3 as long as the blades; leafets varied, triangular-egg-shaped (at the base) to oblong- lance-shaped (above), ≤6-8 cm long; leaf scales broad to slender (not hair- like) ...... Dryopteris cristata

4a 4b

21 References

Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). 2017. List of all Vascular Taxa Confrmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - July 2017.in A. Parks, editor. ACIMS, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

Britton, N. L. and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated fora of the northern United States and Canada. Reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edi- tion. Dover Publications, Inc., , New York.

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet. 2015. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/

Budd, A. C., J. Looman, and K. F. Best. 2016. Budd’s fora of the Cana- dian provinces. Volume 1. Ferns and Fern Allies, , Monocots Reprint edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC.

Crow, G. E. and C. B. Hellquist. 2006. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America, Volume 1: , Gymno- sperms, and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI.

Douglas, G. W., D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar. 2000. Illustrated fora of . Volume 5. Dicotyledons (Salicaceae through Zygophyl- laceae) and Pteridophytes. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, British Columbia.

Farrar, D. R. and S. J. Popovich. 2010. Ophioglossaceae of Colorado, ad- jacent states and southwest .in Native Plant Society of New Mexico Moonwort Workshop, August 11-12, 2010, Silver City, NM.

Flora North America Editorial Committee. 2008-10. Flora North America website. Oxford University Press. Accessed 2014-2016. www.fna. org.

Lellinger, D. B. 1985. A feld manual of ferns and fern-allies of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, , D.C.

Moss, E. H. 1983. Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario.

Packer, J. G. and A. J. Gould. 2017. Vascular Plants of Alberta Part 1: Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Monocots. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta.

22 Testo, W., A. Haines, and A. V. Gilman. 2016. Huperzia continentalis (Lyco- podiaceae), a new species of gemmiferous frmoss separated from Huperzia haleakalae. Systematic Botany 41:894-901.

Vitt, D. H., J. E. Marsh, and R. B. Bovey. 1988. Mosses, lichens and ferns of northwestern North America. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta.

Williston, P. 2001. The Botrychiaceae of Alberta. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Edmonton, Alberta.

23 List of Species and Illustration Sources Illus. Illus. Scientfc Name Scientfc Name Source Source Adiantum aleutcum H&C Equisetum fuviatle H&C Asplenium viride H&C Equisetum hyemale H&C Athyrium distentfolium H&C Equisetum laevigatum H&C Athyrium flix-femina H&C Equisetum palustre H&C Botrychium ascendens Williston Equisetum pratense BC; H&C Botrychium campestre Nelson Equisetum scirpoides H&C Botrychium crenulatum Williston Equisetum sylvatcum H&C Botrychium hesperium Nelson Equisetum variegatum H&C Botrychium lanceolatum Nelson Gymnocarpium disjunctum H&C Botrychium lineare Williston Gymnocarpium dryopteris JM Botrychium matricariifolium H&C Gymnocarpium jessoense JM Botrychium michiganense Williston Huperzia contnentalis JM Botrychium minganense Nelson Huperzia occidentalis H&C Botrychium neolunaria Nelson Huperzia selago H&C Botrychium pallidum Nelson Isoetes bolanderi H&C Botrychium paradoxum Williston Isoetes echinospora H&C Botrychium pedunculosum Williston Isoetes maritma BC Botrychium pinnatum Williston Isoetes occidentalis BC Botrychium simplex Nelson Lycopodiella inundata H&C Botrychium spathulatum Nelson Lycopodium annotnum H&C Botrychium tunux LK Lycopodium dendroideum H&C Botrychium x watertonense Williston Lycopodium lagopus H&C Botrypus virginianus H&C Marsilea vestta H&C Cryptogramma acrostchoides H&C Mateuccia struthiopteris BC Cryptogramma stelleri H&C Myriopteris gracilis H&C Cystopteris fragilis H&C Myriopteris gracillima H&C H&C Pellaea gastonyi H&C Diphasiastrum alpinum H&C; BC Pellaea glabella H&C Diphasiastrum complanatum H&C Phegopteris connectlis H&C Diphasiastrum sitchense H&C Polypodium hesperium H&C Dryopteris carthusiana JM Polypodium sibiricum BC Dryopteris cristata H&C Polypodium virginianum B&B Dryopteris expansa H&C Polystchum lonchits H&C Dryopteris flix-mas H&C Pteridium aquilinum H&C Dryopteris fragrans JM Sceptridium multfdum H&C Equisetum arvense H&C Sceptridium oneidense Nelson

24 Illus. Scientfc Name Source Selaginella densa JM Selaginella rupestris BC Selaginella scopulorum H&C Selaginella selaginoides H&C Selaginella standleyi BC; LK Selaginella wallacei H&C Woodsia glabella JM Woodsia ilvensis JM Woodsia oregana H&C Woodsia scopulina H&C

Key to Illustration Sources

B&B = Britton, N. L. and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated fora of the northern United States and Canada. reprinted by Dover Publications in 1970 edition. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York.

BC = Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et. al., 2000), provided courtesy of the Province of British Columbia.

H&C = Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J. W. Thompson. 1955-69. Vas- cular plants of the Pacifc Northwest. Volume 1. University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.

JM = John Maywood

Kershaw = Linda Kershaw.

Nelson = Paul Nelson, courtesy of the USDA Forest Service

Williston = Patrick Williston (2001)

25 Index tunux 15 Adiantum virginianum. See Botrypus virginianus aleuticum 5, 17 x watertonense 13 pedatum. See Adiantum aleuticum Botrypus Aspleniaceae 5 virginianus 13 Asplenium Cheilanthes. See Myriopteris trichomanes-ramosum. See Asplenium Cryptogramma 5, 17 viride acrostichoides 17 viride 5 stelleri 17 Athyriaceae 6, 18 Cystopteridaceae 5, 6, 19 Athyrium 6, 18 Cystopteris 6, 19 alpestre. See Athyrium distentifolium fragilis 19 americanum. See Athyrium distenti- montana 19 folium Dendrolycopodium distentifolium 18 dendroideum 7 flix-femina 18 5 Botrychium 13 Diphasiastrum 7, 8 ascendens 15 alpinum 8 campestre 14 complanatum 8 crenulatum 15 sitchense 8 dusenii. See Botrychium crenulatum Dryopteridaceae 5, 6, 18, 21. hesperium 14 See also Onocleaceae; See lanceolatum 13 also Cystopteridaceae; See lineare 14 also Woodsiaceae; See also Athyr- lunaria 14. See also Botrychium neo- iaceae lunaria Dryopteris 6, 21 matricariifolium 14 assimilis. See Dryopteris expansa michiganense 14 carthusiana 21 minganense 15 cristata 21 multifdum. See Sceptridium multif- expansa 21 dum flix-mas 21 neolunaria 14 fragrans 21 oneidense. See Sceptridium oneidense Equisetaceae 4, 11 pallidum 15 Equisetum 11 paradoxum 13 arvense 12 pedunculosum 14 fuviatile 11, 12 pinnatum 14 hyemale 11 simplex 13, 15 laevigatum 11 spathulatum 15 palustre 12

26 pratense 12 perzia continentalis scirpoides 11 sitchense. See Diphasiastrum sitchense sylvaticum 12 Marsilea variegatum 11 vestita 4 Gymnocarpium 19 Marsileaceae 4 continentale 19 disjunctum 19 struthiopteris 5 dryopteris 19 Myriopteris 5, 17 jessoense. See Gymnocarpium conti- Onocleaceae 5 nentale Ophioglossaceae 4, 13 Huperzia 7, 8 Pellaea 5, 17 continentalis 8 atropurpurea. See Pellaea gastonyi haleakalae. See Huperzia continentalis gastonyi 17 occidentalis 8 glabella 17 selago 8 Phegopteris Isoetaceae 4, 10 connectilis 6 Isoetes 10 Polypodiaceae 4, 5 maritima 10 Polypodium 16 occidentalis 10 sibiricum 16 Isoëtes 10 virginianum 16 lsoetes Polypodium hesperium bolanderi 10 hesperium 16 echinospora 10 Polystichum Lycopodiaceae 4, 7 lonchitis 21 Lycopodiella Pteridaceae 5, 17 inundata 7 Pteridium Lycopodium 7, 8 aquilinum 5 alpinum. See Diphasiastrum alpinum Pteridophyta 4 annotinum 8 Sceptridium 13, 15 clavatum. See Lycopodium lagopus multifdum 15 complanatum. See Diphasiastrum oneidense 15 complanatum Selaginella 9 dendroideum. See Dendrolycopodium densa 9 dendroideum var. scopulorum. See Selaginella inundatum. See Lycopodiella inundata scopulorum lagopus 8 var. standleyi. See Selaginella stand- obscurum. See Dendrolycopodium leyi dendroideum rupestris 9 selago. See Huperzia selago; See Hu- scopulorum 9

27 selaginoides 9 standleyi 9 wallacei 9 Selaginellaceae 4, 9 Telypteridaceae 6 Woodsia 6 glabella 20 ilvensis 20 oregana 20 scopulina 20 Woodsiaceae 6, 20

28