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Pentagramma triangularis
Also called Gold Fern, Goldenback Fern, Western Gold Fern, Western Goldfern
Pentagramma triangularis, commonly known as the gold fern or the goldback fern, is a species of fern in the family Pteridaceae, native to Western North America, with highest abundance in the state of California. Its common name "goldback" refers to the light yellow color of the fern's protective coating which inhibits moisture loss. The gold texture appears as a dry powder that is excreted on the underside of the fern. The Latin genus name Pentagramma derives from "five lines" or "stripes" while the specific epithet triangularis derives from "three sided", describing the shape of the fern's broad triangular fronds.
The distribution of P. triangularis includes much of the west coast of North America and extends from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Baja California, Mexico, east to Arizona, and in the Blue Mountains of south eastern Washington. This species is also found on the Pacific island of Guadalupe off the Baja California shore, and plants there may represent an undescribed taxon.
The fronds are eaten by species such as the Dusky-footed woodrat.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Pentagramma triangularis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
