Cystopteris tennesseensis

Cystopteris tennesseensis, commonly known as the Tennessee fragile fern or Tennessee bladderfern, is a species of fern in the family Cystopteridaceae.^[1][2]

Cystopteris tennesseensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Aspleniineae
Family:	Cystopteridaceae
Genus:	Cystopteris
Species:	C. tennesseensis
Binomial name
Cystopteris tennesseensis Shaver
Synonyms
Cystopteris fragilis var. tennesseensis (Shaver) McGregor Cystopteris fragilis (Linnaeus) Bernhardi f. simulans Weatherby

Description

Cystopteris tennesseensis is a lithophytic fern, growing on calcareous rock ledges, scree, and cliffs. It has creeping rhizomes, and occasionally has misshapen bulbets.^[1]

Cystopteris tennesseensis is a member of the Cystopteris hybrid complex. It originated as an allotetraploid hybrid between two diploid parents, C. bulbifera × C. protrusa.^[1]

Distribution

The fern is native to the eastern United States. It occurs in the states of: Ala., Ark., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Md., Mo., N.C., Ohio., Okla., Pa., Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.^[1]