This plant is native to a large part of the western and northern United States and much of Canada.

[3][4][5] Physematium oreganum leaves (fronds) are twice pinnate to pinnate-pinnatifid (second leaf division not complete to base) growing from a short scaly rhizome.

Individual plants sometimes appear as a single clump, but may form an elongated mass when the rhizome is longer.

Small round sori on the underside of pinnae are initially partly covered with a narrowly lobed indusium.

[5] It grows widely in the western United States and southwestern Canada, and is present in more scattered locations further east.