Brittle bladder fern (Cystopteris fragilis, Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 26 (1805))

Family: Aspleniaceae

Author: (L.) Bernh.

Bibliography: Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 26 (1805)

Year: 1805

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cystopteris

Vegetable: False

Observations: Cosmopolitan

Description

The Brittle bladder fern, scientifically designated as Cystopteris fragilis, is a cosmopolitan species that falls within the Aspleniaceae family. Documented elaborately in “Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 26” in the year 1805 by the author Bernh., this fern is notable for its widespread distribution and delicate structure.

Characterized by its fragile fronds, the Brittle bladder fern thrives in a variety of environments, which is a testament to its adaptability. These fronds are typically light green and are finely divided, creating an intricate yet dainty appearance that fits comfortably in both natural and cultivated settings. Due to its name, this fern is often associated with brittle or vulnerable leaves that can easily break upon handling, thus requiring gentle care.

The habitat of Cystopteris fragilis is quite diverse as it flourishes in regions ranging from temperate zones to alpine climates. It can commonly be found in moist, shaded areas such as forest floors, ravines, and the crevices of rock faces where it takes advantage of the cool, humid microclimate. Its ability to colonize a wide spectrum of habitats contributes significantly to its cosmopolitan distribution.

Aside from its aesthetic and adaptable qualities, the Brittle bladder fern plays an important ecological role. It provides ground cover that aids in the reduction of soil erosion and supports a micro-ecosystem for various forms of wildlife. The plant is also of interest for its potential use in ecological restoration projects due to its hardy nature.

In summary, the Brittle bladder fern is an exemplary species within the Aspleniaceae family, celebrated for its delicate beauty and remarkable resilience. Its global presence and ecological significance make it a fascinating subject of study and a valued plant for fern enthusiasts and botanists alike.

Common Names

Eng: brittle bladder fern, brittle bladderfern, brittle fern, fragile fern, brittle bladder-fern, bladder fern, common fragile fern, fragile bladder fern, northern fragile fern
Dan: bægerbregne, skør bægerbregne
Deu: zerbrechlicher blasenfarn
Nld: blaasvaren
Fra: cystoptéris, cystoptère fragile, cystoptéride fragile
Swe: stenbräken, fjällstenbräken, vanlig stenbräken
Sme: rašesdealgi, dipmadealgi
Cym: ffiol-redynen ddeintiog, ffiolredynen frau, rhedynen frau
En: Brittle bladder fern, Brittle fern, Fragile fern, Brittle bladderfern, Brittle Bladder-fern, Bladder fern, Common fragile fern, Fragile bladder fern, Northern fragile fern
Ca: Falguera fràgil
Da: Bægerbregne, Skør bægerbregne
Nl: Blaasvaren
Fr: Cystoptéris, Cystoptère fragile, Cystoptéride fragile, Capillaire blanc, Cystoptéris fragile, Capillaire blanche
De: Zerbrechlicher Blasenfarn, Felsen-Blasenfarn, Gemeiner Blasenfarn, Zerbrechliger Blasenfarn
It: Felcetta fragile
Se: Rašesdealgi, Dipmadealgi
Sv: Stenbräken, Fjällstenbräken, Vanlig stenbräken
Cy: Ffiol-Redynen Ddeintiog, Ffiolredynen Frau, Rhedynen Frau

Synonyms

• Polypodium fragile (L.)
• Cystea fragilis ((L.) Sm.)
• Filicula fragilis ((L.) Farw.)
• Cyathea fragilis ((L.) Sm.)
• Aspidium fragile ((L.) Sw.)
• Filix fragilis ((L.) Underw.)
• Tectaria fragilis ((L.) Lag., Garcia & Clem.)
• Cystopteris filix-fragilis (Borbás)
• Cystopteris fragilis subsp. eufragilis (Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cyclopteris fragilis ((L.) Gray)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Chad (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile South (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Corse (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Falkland Is. (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Free State (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Japan (native)
• Juan Fernández Is. (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kerguelen (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Lesotho (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• New Zealand North (native)
• New Zealand South (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Peru (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Québec (native)
• Romania (native)
• Réunion (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South Georgia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Svalbard (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tasmania (native)
• Texas (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Victoria (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Yukon (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jan 3, 2021 by jcasado94 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2022 by Miguel Angel Fernandez Perez (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 16, 1998 by EOL − Charles Webber (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 16, 2022 by Raymond Favre-Nicolin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2021 by García Calero Cristina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 30, 2020 by Bogdan Nesic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 14, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2022 by margarida vila (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 5, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 21, 2007 by Tela Botanica − null null (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2007 by Tela Botanica − null null (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2007 by Tela Botanica − null null (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2014 by EOL − Erwin Gruber (cc-by)

Taken Jun 9, 2014 by EOL − Xavier Béjar (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2009 by EOL − Jan Ševčík (public)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2650818)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30013429-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth