Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Cystopteris fragilis is a species of fern known by the common names brittle bladderfern and common fragile fern. It can be found worldwide, generally in shady, moist areas. The leaves are up to 30 or 40 centimeters long and are borne on fleshy petioles. Each leaf is divided into many pairs of leaflets, each of which is subdivided into lobed segments. The underside of the leaf has many rounded sori containing the sporangia.

Plant type

Fern

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24*

Site type

moist rock crevices, meadows, banks, streamsides

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest