Pentagramma

The genus Pentagramma consists of two species of small ferns which are found in dry habitats.

Pentagramma triangularis (goldback fern) is endemic to British Columbia, Canada, the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington), and northwestern Mexico. There are also four subspecies of Pentagramma triangularis, one of which is only found in California (Pentagramma triangularis ssp. semipallida). Another subspecies (Pentagramma triangularis ssp. viscosa) is found in Baja California, Mexico, and the State of California.

The second species, Pentagramma pallida (pale silverback fern), is endemic to California only, and is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants as vulnerable.

Click here for a distribution map for Pentagramma in the United States and Canada (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service).

Click here for Pentagramma in the the Encyclopedia of Life.

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