Pteridaceae

Moss fern

Hecistopteris pumila (Spr.) J.Sm.

Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Hecistopteris

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Moss fern (Hecistopteris pumila) — Photo: Guillaume Delaitre, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (1)

English: Moss fern

Synonyms

Gymnogramma pumila A.Spreng.
Hecistopteris pumila subsp. ceratophylla Christ
Hecistopteris pumila subsp. fimbriata Christ
Hecistopteris pumila subsp. lineata Christ
Hecistopteris pumila var. obtusa Maxon & C.V.Morton
Vittaria pumila (Spreng.) Goebel

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Puerto Rico: native

Photos

Photo: Guillaume Delaitre, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Guillaume Delaitre, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Guillaume Delaitre, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Guillaume Delaitre, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: birdzilla, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

More in Hecistopteris

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.