Species · GBIF taxon 2651122
western sword fern
Polystichum munitumAlso known as Western Swordfern, Sword Fern, Giant Holly Fern
Western sword ferns are robust, evergreen giants of the Pacific Northwest forest floor, forming magnificent clumps of arching, leathery fronds that can reach up to 1.8 meters in height. Each sword-shaped frond features alternating, finely-toothed leaflets, each with a small upward-pointing lobe at the base resembling a sword hilt. These resilient ferns play a vital ecological role by stabilizing damp slopes, providing year-round shelter for small forest creatures, and thriving in the deep shade of coniferous canopies.
EvergreenShade-LovingSpore-Bearing
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Mountain Beavers
- Black-Tailed Deer
- Elk
ThreatsHabitat destruction, urban development, and severe prolonged droughts
HabitatsMoist coniferous forests, coastal woodlands, shaded ravines, and rocky slopes
Life spanUp to 100 years or more
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyDryopteridaceae
- SpeciesPolystichum munitum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe and touch at any distance.
Responsible observation
- Look for the hilt: Examine the base of an individual leaflet to find the small, upward-pointing lobe that resembles a sword hilt.
- Inspect the undersides: Turn over a mature frond in summer to see the neat, double rows of circular, spore-producing sori.
- Appreciate the fiddleheads: Watch for the tightly coiled, silvery-scaled fiddleheads emerging from the forest floor in early spring.
Frequent Companion 
Frequent Companion No machine-readable author provided. MPF assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 2.5 · cc-byClose Relative Close Relative
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