# serpentine fern (*Aspidotis densa*)

The serpentine fern is a beautiful plant with curly, green leaves that look like little waves. It loves to grow in shady places and adds a touch of magic to gardens and forests.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![serpentine fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aspidotis_densa_5982.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aspidotis_densa_5982.JPG)

## Appearance

The serpentine fern is a small, tough plant with stiff, leathery fronds that can appear bluish-green. Its triangular leaves often grow in dense clumps, emerging from rocky crevices, giving it a unique, rugged look. It stands out visually due to its dark, compact form amidst bare rock.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Polypodiopsida
- **Order:** Polypodiales
- **Family:** Pteridaceae
- **Genus:** Aspidotis

## Interesting facts

- Instead of flowers and seeds, this fern makes tiny dust-like spores to reproduce!
- It loves rocky soils that are full of metals like nickel, which most plants cannot tolerate!
- Its fronds are super tough, almost like leather, helping it survive in harsh places.
- Some people call it a 'cliff brake' because it often grows on rocky cliffs.

## Special abilities

- **Toxic Soil Shield:** Serpentine fern can thrive in special soils high in heavy metals, an adaptation that helps it survive where most plants can't grow.
- **Drought Defender:** This fern has tough, leathery fronds that help it lose less water, allowing it to survive long, dry periods in rocky habitats.
- **Crevice Clinger:** Serpentine fern has strong roots that help it grip tightly onto tiny cracks in rocks, anchoring it securely against wind.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-40 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse on fronds if other food is scarce.
- **Symbiotic with:** Mycorrhizal fungus (*Rhizophagus irregularis*) — Partners with roots to absorb nutrients.
- **Shelter:** Snail (*Canyonella coactata*) — Provides shade and moisture for small invertebrates.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or make you itchy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify serpentine fern?

Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is serpentine fern?

5-30 cm

### How wide does serpentine fern spread?

10-40 cm

### Is serpentine fern edible?

No

### Is serpentine fern toxic?

None

### What is serpentine fern's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is serpentine fern usually found?

Forests

## Where to spot

- [Koksilah River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koksilah-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park
- [Sooke Mountain Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-mountain-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Serpentine Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/serpentine-fern)