Taxon Report

Pelazoneuron puberulum (Baker) A. R. Sm. & S. E. Fawc. var. sonorense (A. R. Sm.) A. R. Sm. & S. E. Fawc.

Sonoran maiden fern

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Pelazoneuron puberulum var. sonorense, commonly known as Sonoran maiden fern, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Thelypteridaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps (seeps, and streams), growing at elevations from 50 to 610 meters. Pelazoneuron puberulum var. sonorense is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Pelazoneuron puberulum (Baker) A. R. Sm. & S. E. Fawc. var. sonorense (A. R. Sm.) A. R. Sm. & S. E. Fawc.
Common Name:	Sonoran maiden fern
Family:	Thelypteridaceae
Element Code:	PPTHE05192
USDA Plants Symbol:	THPUS
Synonyms/Other Names:	Thelypteris puberula (Baker) C. Morton var. sonorensis A. R. Smith

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Jan-Sep	Jan-Sep
Elevation:	50-610 (165-2000)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5T4
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	USFS_S
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	27
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	23

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Azusa (3411728), Carpinteria (3411945), Gaviota (3412042), Glendora (3411727), Goleta (3411947), Harrison Mtn. (3411722), Mt. Wilson (3411821), Palm Springs (3311675), Pasadena (3411822), Point Dume (3411817), Santa Barbara (3411946), Santa Ynez (3412051), Tajiguas (3412041), Topanga (3411815), Tranquillon Mtn. (3412055), Triunfo Pass (3411818)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	4	15 %
Non-native plant impacts	2	7%
Over-collecting/poaching	1	3%
Surface water diversion	1	3%

Notes




Threats:
Possibly threatened by foot traffic, recreational activities, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Non-Substantive Name Changes: Multiple taxa in various plant families from the Jepson eFlora revisions 8, 9, and 10

University of California Publications in Botany 59:91 (1971)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 February 2025].