Woodsia glabella — smooth cliff fern
![Plant form: Woodsia glabella. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/woodsia-glabella-ha-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Plant form: Woodsia glabella. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/woodsia-glabella-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Leaf: Woodsia glabella. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/woodsia-glabella-le-ahaines-c.jpg)
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New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeFacts
Smooth cliff fern has a circumboreal distribution. In North America it is mainly found in Canada and Alaska, but dips into New England, where it is a rare inhabitant of high-pH cliffs. This species is distinguished from other cliff ferns by its lack of hairs.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- ridges or ledges
Wetland status
Not classified
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Maine
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), threatened (code: T)
- Massachusetts
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- New Hampshire
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Vermont
- rare (S-rank: S2)
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
Family
Genus
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
2. Woodsia glabella R. Br. ex Richards. NC
smooth cliff fern. Woodsia alpina (Bolton) S.F. Gray var. glabella (R. Br. ex Richards.) D.C. Eat.; W. hyperborea R. Br. var. glabella (R. Br. ex Richards.) Watt • MA, ME, NH, VT. High-pH rock of cliffs.