Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton
Polypodium virginianum L.
Common polypody, rock polypody, rock cap fern
Rock polypody is native to eastern North America, and possibly also to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia. It forms a springy, verdant carpet over rocks, even in winter. It is also partial to cliffs..
Identification: Smaller than most ferns, rock polypody has narrow fronds 3–16″ (8–40 cm) long and 1–2″ (3–6 cm) wide, on smooth stems (petioles) 1–6″ (3–15 cm) long. Fronds are erect and often arched, oblong, lanceolate-oblong, or elliptic-oblong in general shape, containing 8-20 pairs of leaflets, and usually widest toward the middle. While many ferns emerge from a central rhizome, these are haphazardly oriented. Leaflets are oblong and acuminate. The angle formed between successive leaflets is very acute, while similar appearing resurrection ferns’ are concave. In summer and fall, round sori, arranged in neat rows and columns of fuzzy-looking pale brown dots, appear on the leaf undersides. The sori lack a protective membrane (indusia).
Habitats: On rocks and cliffs, in dampness and shade.
Online References:
References:
Polypodium vulgare auct. non L. p.p.
Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton
Polypodium vulgare L. var. virginianum (L.) Eaton
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire 
10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (8.7 × 13 cm) 
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 12 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 41 cm) 
7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (79 × 53 cm) 
8/6/2025 · Linekin Preserve and Burley Loop, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm) 
3/22/2025 · Owens Mouth Preserve West, Boothbay, Maine 
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 11 cm) 
8/15/2015 · Moose Cave, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine 
10/3/2010 · George W. Childs State Park, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania 
ID is uncertain 
9/26/2010 · Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts 
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State, Ashby, New Hampshire 
8/6/2025 · Linekin Preserve and Burley Loop, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
6/27/2025 · Butler Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 2′ (86 × 57 cm) 
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm) 
10/16/2016 · Monument Mountain, Great Barrington, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm) 
9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 7″ (16 × 17 cm) 
7/31/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire 
7/12/2020 · Harraseeket Trail, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 18 cm) 
4/29/2016 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5½ × 3½′ (1.8 × 1.1 m) 
10/5/2016 · Pine Meadow Conservation Area, Ayer, Massachusetts 
4/3/2010 · Mt. Battie (Elev. 780'), Camden, Maine · ≈ 7 × 6″ (17 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Pteridophyta | Ferns |
| Class | Filicopsida | “Leptosporangiate” (has to do with how their spores form) ferns—includes most ferns |
| Order | Polypodiales | Polypod ferns |
| Family | Polypodiaceae | Polypod ferns, many of which are epiphytes—they grow on other plants without harming them |
| Genus | Polypodium | From Greek polus, “many,” and podos, “foot” |
| Species | virginianum | “Of Virginia” |
Polypodium virginianum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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