Polypodiaceae

Western polypody

Polypodium hesperium Maxon

Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Polypodium

Pet and kid safety: not checked yet. Check pet-safe plants

Western polypody: Western Polypody Maxon — Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free

Common names

By language (2)

Arabic: سرخس غربي
English: Western polypody

Synonyms

Polypodium prolongilobum Clute
Polypodium vulgare f. perpusillum (Clute) M.Broun
Polypodium vulgare subsp. columbianum (Gilbert) Hultén
Polypodium vulgare var. columbianum Gilbert
Polypodium vulgare var. hesperium (Maxon) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
Polypodium vulgare var. perpusillum Clute

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Shane Johnson, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Erin Springinotic, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Peter L Achuff, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Caleb Catto, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Braden J. Judson, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Darrin Gobble, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons

More in Polypodium

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.