Polystichum aleuticum

Polystichum aleuticum, the Aleutian holly fern or Aleutian shield fern, is an endangered species of the Polystichum genus and currently consisting of a small, vulnerable population endemic found only on Adak Island, Alaska, a remote island of the Aleutian Islands chain in the northern Pacific Ocean. This species grows on steep, windswept slopes with thin, rocky soils, often in sites exposed to salt spray and harsh subarctic weather, conditions that likely contribute to its limited distribution. In 1992, 112 specimens existed in the wild, and following its listing as endangered in 1988, a recovery plan was implemented. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a recovery plan outlining habitat protection, population monitoring, and research on the species’ biology. Periodic 5-year reviews have continued to evaluate population trends and management needs. The Aleutian shield fern is the only native plant of Alaska on the federal endangered species list. As there are fewer than 150 pl......read more on Wikipedia.