Dryopteridaceae

Western swordfern

Polystichum munitum (Kaulf.) C.Presl

Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Polystichum

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Western swordfern: Western Sword Fern ( Polystichum munitum ) growing in the Columbia River gorge — Photo: Jami Dwyer, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (7)

Dutch: Zwaardvaren
English: Western swordfern
Hebrew: שרך החרב המערבי
Japanese: ソードシダ
Polish: Paprotnik zbrojny
Russian: Многорядник защищённый
Welsh: Gwrychredynen y cledd

Synonyms

Aspidium munitum var. inciso-serratum D.C.Eaton
Polystichum munitum subsp. inciso-serratum (D.C.Eaton) Piper & Beattie
Polystichum munitum subsp. munitum
Polystichum munitum var. munitum
Polystichum solitarium (Maxon) Underw. ex Maxon

Flowers

Flower colour: brown (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

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

Photos

Photo: Jami Dwyer, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Karen Gerbrecht, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Jazmine Jamieson, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Вассисуалий Минассалов, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Rebecca Morrison-Stoney, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Rebecca Morrison-Stoney, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Matt Mm, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: ben vc, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Sushihamster, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: Alejandro Bechtle, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: jeffla57, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
Photo: neddy.seagoon, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF

More in Polystichum

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.