At least 29 ferns are native to Nevada County. Nevada County's native ferns and close relatives of ferns are described below.1
Adder's Tongue Family
Moonwort grapefern is found in meadows in red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and riparian forest between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands. Mingan moonwort is found in yellow pine forest.
Beech Fern Family
Sierra marsh fern is found on streambanks in yellow pine forest and riparian forest below 5,000 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands.
Brackenfern Family
Western brackenfern is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and subalpine forest below 10,000 feet.
Brake Family
Western five-finger fern is found in chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and riparian forest below 10,000 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands. It tolerates serpentine. California maidenhair fern is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, and riparian forest below 3,500 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands. California lacefern is found on slopes in foothill woodland, chaparral, and yellow pine forest below 2,500 feet. Indian dream lacefern is found on ridges in yellow pine forest and red fir forest between 5,000 and 8,900 feet. It tolerates serpentine. Lace lipfern is found in yellow pine forest, red fir forest, and lodgepole pine forest below 9,000 feet. American parsley fern is found in red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and subalpine forest between 6,000 and 10,000 feet. Cascade parsley fern is found between 6,800 and 11,200 feet. Coffee cliffbrake is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, and yellow pine forest below 5,900 feet. Sierra cliffbrake is found in yellow pine forest and red fir forest between 3,500 and 8,000 feet. It tolerates serpentine. Brewer's cliffbrake is found in red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and subalpine forest between 7,000 and 11,000 feet. Bridges' cliffbrake is found in yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and subalpine forest between 5,000 and 11,000 feet. Birdfoot cliffbrake is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, and yellow pine forest below 8,500 feet. Silverback fern is found between 300 and 4,000 feet Goldenback fern is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, and yellow pine forest below 7,600 feet.
Chain Fern Family
Western giant chainfern is found in wetlands in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, and riparian forest below 5,000 feet.
Cliff Fern Family
Alpine ladyfern is found in Nevada County. Common ladyfern is found in yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and riparian forest between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands. Brittle bladderfern is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and alpine fell-fields below 12,000 feet.
Clubmoss Family
Bog clubmoss is found in lake margins, bogs, and fens in freshwater marsh and yellow pine forest.
Horsetail Family
Common field horsetail is found in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and riparian forest below 9,500 feet. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands. Scouringrush horsetail is found on streambanks and in wetlands in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, and riparian forest below 9,900 feet. Smooth scouringrush horsetail is found in wetlands in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and riparian forest below 6,500 feet. Giant horsetail is found on streambanks and in wetlands in foothill woodland, chaparral, yellow pine forest, and riparian forest below 4,500 feet. quisetum ×ferrissii" Ferris' horsetail is found below 9,900 feet.
Mosquito Fern Family
Mexican mosquito fern is found in wetlands in freshwater marsh and riparian forest.
Polypody Family
California polypody is found on streambanks in foothill woodland and chaparral below 4,000 feet. Licorice fern is found below 4,000 feet.
Quillwort Family
Bolander's quillwort is found in wetlands in riparian forest. Howell's quillwort is found in wetlands in riparian forest. Nuttall's quillwort is found in wetlands in chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and riparian forest. Western quillwort is found in wetlands in riparian forest. Orcutt's quillwort is an aquatic plant found in riparian forest.
Spikemoss Family
Hansen's spikemoss is found in foothill woodland and yellow pine forest below 6,000 feet. Wallace's spikemoss is found in yellow pine forest below 5,600 feet. Watson's spikemoss is found in lodgepole pine forest, subalpine forest, and alpine fell-fields between 7,500 and 13,000 feet.
Waterclover Family
Pacific waterclover is found in vernal pools and wetlands in freshwater marsh and riparian forest between 4,600 and 6,600 feet. Hairy waterclover is found on streambanks below 7,000 feet.
Woodfern Family
California coastal woodfern is found below 6,000 feet. Narrowleaf swordfern is found between 900 and 8,200 feet. Western swordfern is found in chaparral, yellow pine forest, and red fir forest below 7,000 feet. Mountain hollyfern is found in yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and subalpine forest between 5,000 and 10,000 feet.
Footnotes
1. CalFlora.org
