Taxon Report

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott

male fern

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Dryopteris filix-mas, commonly known as male fern, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Dryopteridaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Upper montane coniferous forest (granitic, and rocky), growing at elevations from 2400 to 3100 meters. Dryopteris filix-mas is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott
Common Name:	male fern
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Element Code:	PPDRY0A0B0
USDA Plants Symbol:	DRFI2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep	Jul-Sep
Elevation:	2400-3100 (7875-10170)
General Habitats:	Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	6

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Amador (AMA), Mono (MNO), San Bernardino (SBD)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bear River Reservoir (3812052), Fawnskin (3411638)*, Mt. Barcroft (3711852), Station Peak (3711851)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Known in CA from only five occurrences in the White Mtns. Endangered in OR. See Madroño 35(2):164 (1988) for information on second occurrence in CA.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 9 November 2025].