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Taxon  Report  
Cystopteris fragilis  (L.) Bernh.
Bladder fern,   Brittle bladder fern,   Brittle fern,   Fragile fern
Cystopteris fragilis is a fern that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Genus: Cystopteris
Family: Cystopteridaceae  
(Dryopteridaceae)
Category: fern  
PLANTS group:Fern
Jepson eFlora section: fern

Wetlands: Occurs usually in non wetlands, occasionally in wetlands

Communities: Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, Alpine Fell-fields, many plant communities

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS + POWO
Alternate Names:
PLANTSCystopteris dickieana
PLANTSCystopteris fragilis ssp. dickieana
PLANTSCystopteris fragilis var. angustata
PLANTSCystopteris fragilis var. woodsioides
PLANTSFilix fragilis
Information about  Cystopteris fragilis from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (CYFR2)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Worldwide Range: Cystopteris fragilis is a species of perennial fern known by the common names brittle bladder-fern and common fragile fern. It can be found worldwide, generally in shady, moist areas. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 05/19/2025).