Flora of New York/Ferns 1

A reviewed version of this page, approved on 24 December 2019, was based off this revision.

← Lycophytes	Flora of New York — Pre-polypod ferns				→ Polypodiales
	Table of contents	Genus index	Protected species index	Invasive species index

Subclass	Order	Suborder	Family	Subfamily	Genus	Subgenus	Common names	#
Equisetidae	Equisetales	—	Equisetaceae	—	Equisetum	Equisetum	horsetail	6
Equisetidae	Equisetales	—	Equisetaceae	—	Equisetum	Hippochaete	scouring rush	7
Ophioglossidae	Ophioglossales	—	Ophioglossaceae	Botrychioideae	Botrychium	Botrychium	moonwort, grape fern	8
						Osmundopteris	rattlesnake fern	1
						Sceptridium	evergreen grapefern	4
				Ophioglossoideae	Ophioglossum		adder's tongue	1
Polypodiidae (leptosporangiate ferns)	Osmundales	—	Osmundaceae	—	Osmundastrum		cinnamon fern	1
					Osmunda	Claytosmunda	interrupted fern	1
					Osmunda	Osmunda	royal fern	1
	Hymenophyllales	—	Hymenophyllaceae	Trichomanoideae	Crepidomanes		grotto felt, weft fern	1
	Schizaeales	—	Lygodiaceae	—	Lygodium		climbing fern	1
	Schizaeales	—	Schizaeaceae	—	Schizaea		curlygrass fern	1
	Salviniales	—	Salviniaceae	—	Azolla		mosquitofern	1
			Salviniaceae	—	Salvinia		watermoss, floatingfern	x
			Marsileaceae	—	Marsilea		waterclover, waterfern	1
	Polypodiales	Dennstaedtiineae	Dennstaedtiaceae	—	Dennstaedtia		hay-scented fern	1
		Dennstaedtiineae	Dennstaedtiaceae	—	Pteridium		brackenfern	2
		Pteridineae	Pteridaceae	Cryptogrammoideae	Cryptogramma		rock brake	1
				Pteridoideae	Pteris		brake fern	x
				Cheilanthoideae	Pellaea		cliff brake	2
				Cheilanthoideae	Cheilanthes		lip fern	1
				Vittarioideae	Adiantum		maidenhair-fern	1
				Vittarioideae	Vittaria		ribbon fern	1
		Aspleniineae	Cystopteridaceae	—	Cystopteris		bladder fern	5
			Cystopteridaceae	—	Gymnocarpium		oak fern	2
			Diplaziopsidaceae	—	Homalosorus		glade fern	1
			Aspleniaceae	—	Asplenium		spleenwort	10
			Thelypteridaceae	Phegopteridoideae	Phegopteris		beech fern	2
			Thelypteridaceae	Thelypteridoideae	Thelypteris		marsh fern, New York fern	3
			Woodsiaceae	—	Woodsia		cliff fern	5
			Onocleaceae	—	Onoclea		sensitive fern	1
			Onocleaceae	—	Matteuccia		ostrich fern	1
			Blechnaceae	Woodwardioideae	Anchistea		Virginia chainfern	1
			Blechnaceae	Woodwardioideae	Lorinseria		netted chainfern	1
			Athyriaceae	—	Deparia		false spleenwort	1
			Athyriaceae	—	Athyrium		lady fern	3
		Polypodiineae	Dryopteridaceae	Dryopteridoideae	Cyrtomium		netvein hollyfern	x
					Dryopteris		woodfern	30
					Polystichum		hollyfern	5
			Polypodiaceae	Polypodioideae	Polypodium		polypody, rockcap fern	3
			Polypodiaceae	Polypodioideae	Pleopeltis		resurrection fern	x

Order Ophioglossales

The order Ophioglossales contains the oldest of the plants now considered to be ferns s.l.^[1]

↑ P.F. Stevens, (2001-2015). "Ferns s.l." Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, April 2015

Family Ophioglossaceae

The Ophioglossaceae (adder's-tongue family) comprises primitive ferns that have traditionally been considered part of a group informally known as fern-allies. In New York, the family is represented by about a dozen native species, all of which are listed as protected plants.^[1]

↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants..

Botrychium

The genus Botrychium contains the moonworts, evergreen grapeferns, and rattlesnake ferns, each of which is treated here as a subgenus of Botrychium. These groups are also sometimes treated as separate genera within the Ophioglossaceae.

Botrychium subg. Botrychium

Ophioglossales — Ophioglossaceae — Botrychium subg. Botrychium
Genus Botrychium subg. Botrychium	Moonwort, grape fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Botrychium matricariifolium (Döll) A.Braun ex W.D.J.Koch 1843. B. lunariavar. matricariifolium 1847. B. neglectum Alph.Wood 1847. B. matricariifolium ex W.D.J.Koch	Daisy-leaved moonwort, Chamomile grape-fern, Matricary grapefern Botryche à feuille de matricaire	Native, CoC: 7, Likely secure FACU Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 4	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium angustisegmentum (Pease & A.H.Moore) Fernald 1906. B. lanceolatum var. angustisegmentum 1915. B. angustisegmentum (Pease & A.H.Moore) Fernald 1937. B. lanceolatum ssp. angustisegmentum	Narrow triangle moonwort, Narrow moonwort, Lance-leaved grape-fern Botryche à segments étroits	Native, CoC: 7, Likely secure FACW Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 4	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ITIS FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium simplex E.Hitchc. 1823. B. simplex E.Hitchc. 1899. B. tenebrosum A.A.Eaton	Least grape-fern, Little grape-fern	Native, CoC: 9, Likely secure Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 4-5	USDA-NN Go Botany BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium tenebrosum A.A.Eaton B. simplexvar. tenebrosum B. tenebrosum A.A.Eaton	Shade-loving moonwort, Swamp moonwort	Native, CoC: 10, Endangered Perennial, Fern		NYFA: U	Go Botany Images Wikispecies
Botrychium neolunaria Stensvold & Farrar 1753. Osmunda lunaria L. misapplied 1801. B. lunaria (L.) Sw. misappl. 1903. B. onondagense Underw. 1923. B. lunaria var. onondagense (Underw.) House 2017. B. neolunaria Stensvold & Farrar	Moonwort grape-fern, Common moonwort	Native, CoC: 10, Endangered, CA, NYNHP: 1^[1] Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 1	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium minganense Vict. 1927. B. minganense Vict. 1937. B. lunariavar. minganense 1965. B. lunariassp. minganense	Mingan's moonwort, Mingan moonwort, Mingan Island moonwort Botryche de Mingan	Native, CoC: 10, Endangered, CA, NYNHP: 1^[2] Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 1	USDA-N Go Botany BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium campestre W.H.Wagner & Farrar B. minganense (in part)	Prairie moonwort, Prairie dunewort, Dunewort, Iowa moonwort	Native, CoC: 10, No recent reports, NYNHP: 1^[3] Perennial, Fern		NYFA: Z	USDA-NN Go Botany BONAP Images Wikispecies
Genus Botrychium subg. Botrychium (excluded taxa)	Moonwort, grape fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Botrychium lanceolatum (S.G.Gmel.) Ångstr. 1854. B. lanceolatum (S.G.Gmel.) Ångstr.	Triangle moonwort Botryche élancé	N. America native, N.Y. excluded Perennial, Fern		NYFA-Excluded	FNA Images Wikispecies
Botrychium ascendens W.H.Wagner 1986. B. ascendens W.H.Wagner	Triangle-lobe moonwort, Upswept moonwort, Ascending grapefern Botryche ascendant	Native, Unreported Perennial, Fern		NYFA: D	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ITIS FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies
↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium lunaria. Endangered, S1/G5. ↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium minganense. Endangered, S1/G4G5. ↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium campestre. Endangered, S1/Gx.

Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris

The subgenus Osmundopteris (sometimes treated as the genus Botrypus) contains a single, fairly widespread Rattlesnake fern species in New York.

Ophioglossales — Ophioglossaceae — Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris
Genus Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris	Rattlesnake fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. 1753. Osmunda virginiana L. 1800. Botrychium virginianum Sw. 1803. Botrypus virginianus Michx. 1814. Botrychium gracile Pursh 1938. Osmundopteris virginiana Small 1958. Japanobotrychium virginianum in…	Rattlesnake fern, Rattlesnake grapefern, Virginia grapefern Botryche de Virginie	Native, CoC: 8, Secure		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies

Botrychium subg. Sceptridium

The subgenus Sceptridium, often treated as a separate genus Sceptridium Lyon (1905), contains the evergreen grape ferns, four species of which are native to New York.

Ophioglossales — Ophioglossaceae — Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris sect. Sceptridium
Genus Botrychium subg. Sceptridium	Evergreen grape fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Botrychium dissectum Spreng. 1804. Botrychium dissectum Spreng. 1810. Botrychium obliquum Muhl. 1902. B. dissectumvar. obliquum 1905. Sceptridium dissectum Lyon 1905. Sceptridium obliquum Lyon	Cut-leaved grape-fern, Cutleaf grapefern, Dissected grapefern	Native, CoC: 3, Secure		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies Note: CA
Botrychium multifidum (S.G.Gmel.) Rupr. B. californicum Underw. B. coulteri Underw. B. silaifolium C.Presl Sceptridium multifidum	Leathery grape-fern, Leather grape-fern	Native, CoC: 3, Secure		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium oneidense (Gilbert) House 1901. B. ternatumvar. oneidense 1905. B. oneidense House 1916. B. multifidumvar. oneidense 1924. B. dissectumvar. oneidense 1998. Sceptridium oneidense Holub	Blunt-lobed grape-fern, Bluntlobe grapefern, Oneida grape fern	Native, CoC: 5, Threatened, CA, NYNHP: 2^[1]		NYFA: 2-3	USDA-NN Go Botany BONAP Images Wikispecies
Botrychium rugulosum W.H.Wagner B. multifidumfo. dentatum auct. B. ternatum non (Thunb.) Sw. Sceptridium rugulosum	Ternate grapefern, Rugulose grape-fern, St. Lawrence grape-fern, Botryche à limbe rugueux	Native, CoC: 6, Endangered, Few populations, CA, NYNHP: 1^[2]		NYFA: 1	USDA-NN Go Botany FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies
Genus Botrychium subg. Sceptridium (excluded taxa)	Evergreen grape fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Botrychium biternatum (Savigny) Underw. 1798. Osmunda biternata Savigny 1896. B. biternatum (Savigny) Underw. 1903. B. tenuifolium Underw. 1905. Sceptridium tenuifolium (Underw.) Lyon 1905. S. biternatum (Savigny) Lyon 1924. B. dissectumvar. tenuifolium	Sparselobe grapefern, Sparse-lobe grape fern	N. America native, N.Y. excluded		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-N0 FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies
↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium oneidense. Threatened, S2/G4. ↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium rugulosum. Endangered, S1/G3.

Ophioglossum

Northern adder's-tongue may appear in wet meadows, swamp edges, and thickets.

Ophioglossales — Ophioglossaceae — Ophioglossum
Genus Ophioglossum	Adder's-tongue	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Ophioglossum pusillum Raf. 1814. Ophioglossum pusillum Raf. 1927. O. vulgatumvar. alaskanum 1917. O. vulgatumvar. pseudopodum auct. O. vulgatum non L. (s.s.)	Northern adder's-tongue Herbe-sans-couture	Native, CoC: 5, Vulnerable FACW Perennial, Fern		NYFA: 3	USDA-N Go Botany ITIS FNA IPN LBJ Images Wikispecies
Genus Ophioglossum (excluded)	Adder's-tongue	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Ophioglossum vulgatum L. 1753. Ophioglossum vulgatum L. 1939. O. vulgatumvar. pycnostichum 1977. O. pycnostichum (Fernald) A.Löve & D.Löve	Southern adder's-tongue, English adder's-tongue Herbe sans couture	N. America native, N.Y. excluded		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-N0 ARS-GRIN FNA IPN LBJ Images Wikispecies

Order Equisetales

The order Equisetales contains the plants commonly known as horsetails and scouring rushes. This order contains the single living genus Equisetum, which is represented in every county of New York.

Family Equisetaceae

The Equisetaceae (horsetail family) ...

Equisetum

Equisetum is here divided into the two subgenera Equisetum (horsetails) and Hippochaete (scouringrushes).

Equisetum subg. Equisetum

The Equisetum subgenus Equisetum comprises the horsetails.

Equisetales — Equisetaceae — Equisetum subg. Equisetum
Genus Equisetum subg. Equisetum	Horsetail	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Equisetum arvense L. 1753. Equisetum arvense L. 1832. Equisetum boreale Bong. 1912. Allostelites arvensis (L.) Börner 1960. Equisetum calderi B.Boivin	Field horsetail, Common horsetail, Common field horsetail Prêle des champs, Queue de renard	Native, CoC: 2, Secure FAC		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos NatureServe IPN Images Wikispecies
Equisetum fluviatile L. 1753. Equisetum fluviatile L. 1753. Equisetum limosum L. 1904. E. fluviatilevar. limosum (L.) Farw.	Water horsetail, River horsetail Prêle fluviatile	Native, CoC: 4, Secure OBL		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies
Equisetum × litorale Kühlew. ex Rupr. (pro sp.) Equisetum arvense × Equisetum fluviatile 1845. Equisetum litorale Kühlew. ex Rupr.	Litoral horsetail Prêle littorale	Native, Rare OBL		NYFA: 3	USDA-NN Go Botany ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum sylvaticum L. 1753. Equisetum sylvaticum L. 1795. Equisetum capillare Hoffm.	Wood horsetail, Woodland horsetail Prêle des bois	Native, CoC: 7, Secure FACW		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum palustre L. 1753. Equisetum palustre L. 1927. E. palustrevar. americanum Vict.	Marsh horsetail Prêle des marais	Native, CoC: 5, Threatened, NYNHP: 2^[1] FACW		NYFA: 2	USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum pratense Ehrh. 1784. Equisetum pratense Ehrh.	Meadow horsetail, Shady horsetail Prêle des prés	Native, CoC: 4, Threatened, NYNHP: 2^[2] FACW		NYFA: 2	USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Genus Equisetum (excluded) subg. Equisetum	Horsetail	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. ssp. braunii (Milde) Hauke 1862. Equisetum braunii Milde 1978. Equisetum telmateiavar. braunii auct. Equisetum maximum non Lam.	Giant horsetail, Great horsetail, Ivory horsetail Prêle géante	Introduced from western N. America, N.Y. excluded OBL		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-NN VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Equisetum palustre. Threatened, S2/G5. ↑ New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Equisetum pratense. Threatened, S2/G5.

Equisetum subg. Hippochaete

Plants of subg. Hippochaete are often referred to as scouring rushes.

Christenhusz et. al. (2019) suggests that the western scouringrush (Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine) should be treated at the species level (Equisetum praealtum Raf.).^[1]

↑ Christenhusz, M. J. M., Bangiolo, L., Chase, M. W., Fay, M. F., Husby, C., Witkus, M., & Viruel, J. (2019). Phylogenetics, classification and typification of extant horsetails (Equisetum, Equisetaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 189(4), 311-352. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boz002

Equisetales — Equisetaceae — Equisetum subg. Hippochaete
Genus Equisetum subg. Hippochaete	Scouringrush	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Equisetum hyemale L. ssp. affine Calder & Roy L.Taylor Equisetum affine Engelm. Equisetum praealtum Raf. Equisetum robustum A.Braun Hippochaete hyemalis (L.) Braun	Common scouringrush, Western scouringrush, Rough horsetail, Scouringrush horsetail Prêle d'hiver	Native, CoC: 2, Secure		NYFA: 5 iNat	USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum scirpoides Michx. (1803)	Dwarf scouring rush Prêle faux-scirpe	Native, CoC: 9, Secure		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum variegatum Schleich. ex F.Weber & D.Mohr ssp. variegatum Equisetum variegatum Schleich. ex F.Weber & D.Mohr Equisetum variegatumvar. variegatum Hippochaete variegata (Schleich. ex F.Weber & D.Mohr) Bruhin	Variegated scouring rush, Variegated horsetail Prêle panachée	Native, CoC: 3, Likely secure FACW Perennial, Herb		NYFA: 4	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum × mackaii Equisetum hyemale × Equisetum variegatum	Rough-toothed scouring rush	Native, CoC: 3, Vulnerable		NYFA: 3	USDA-N Images Wikispecies
Equisetum × nelsonii (A.A.Eaton) J.H.Schaffn. Equisetum laevigatum × Equisetum variegatum 1904. E. variegatumvar. nelsonii 1926. E. nelsoni J.H.Schaffn.	Nelson's scouring rush, Nelson's horsetail	Native, Unranked		NYFA: U	USDA-NN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Images Wikispecies
Equisetum × ferrissii Clute Equisetum hyemale × Equisetum laevigatum 1903. E. hyemalevar. intermedium 1904. Equisetum ferrissii Clute 1917. Equisetum intermedium Rydb. 1951. E. hyemalevar. elatum	Ferris' scouring rush	Native, Unranked		NYFA: U	USDA-NN ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies
Genus Equisetum (excluded) subg. Hippochaete	Scouring rush	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Equisetum laevigatum A.Braun (1844) E. funstonii E. kansanum Hippochaete laevigata	Smooth scouring-rush	N. America native, N.Y. excluded		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-NN Images Wikispecies

Order Osmundales

The Osmundales contains a single family with three native species represented outside of cultivation in New York.

Family Osmundaceae

The Osmundaceae (royal fern family)...

Osmundastrum

Osmundales — Osmundaceae — Osmundastrum
Genus Osmundastrum	Cinnamon fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C.Presl var. cinnamomeum 1753. Osmunda cinnamomea L. 1841. Osmunda cinnamomeavar. frondosa 1847. Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C.Presl 1868. Osmunda cinnamomeavar. imbricata 1902. Osmunda cinnamomeavar. glandulosa 1909. Osmunda cinnamomeavar. fokiensis	Cinnamon fern, Buckhorn Osmonde cannelle	Native, CoC: 6, Secure, DEC-D^[1] OBL-FACW Perennial, Herb-fern		NYFA: 5	USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS Tropicos Images Wikispecies Note: FEIS
↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable.

Osmunda

Osmundales — Osmundaceae — Osmunda
Genus Osmunda subg. Claytosmunda	Flowering fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Osmunda claytoniana L. 1753. Osmunda claytoniana L. 1801. Struthiopteris claytoniana (L.) Bernh. 1848. Plenasium claytonianum (L.) C. Presl 1941. Osmundastrum claytonianum (L.) Tagawa	Interrupted fern, Clayton's fern Osmonde de Clayton	Native, CoC: 4, Secure, DEC-D^[1] FAC Perennial, Herb-fern		NYFA: 5	USDA-N Go Botany VASCAN Tropicos Images Wikispecies
Genus Osmunda subg. Osmunda	Flowering fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Osmunda regalis L. var. spectabilis (Willd.) A. Gray 1810. Osmunda spectabilis Willd. 1856. Osmunda regalisvar. spectabilis 1977. Osmunda regalisssp. spectabilis	Royal fern, Regal fern, Flowering fern Osmonde royale, Fougère royale	Native, CoC: 6, Secure, DEC-D^[1] OBL Perennial, Herb-fern		NYFA: 5	USDA-N VASCAN ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies
↑ ^a ^b New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable.

Order Hymenophyllales

The order Hymenophyllales contains a single family, the Hymenophyllaceae, or filmy fern family. In New York, only one species of this family has been verified as living outside of cultivation, and that species is considered to be endangered in the state.

Family Hymenophyllaceae

Crepidomanes

The only member of the Hymenophyllaceae found in New York is a gametophitic weft fern Crepidomanes intricatum, which was transferred from Trichomanes to the mostly Asian Crepidomanes genus by Ebihara & Weakley (2011) based on molecular sequence. Crepidomanes intricatum is assumed to be gametophitic only. Sporophitic generations of this plant have not been observed.^[1]^[2]

Hymenophyllales — Hymenophyllaceae — Crepidomanes
Genus Crepidomanes	Grotto felt	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Crepidomanes intricatum (Farrar) Ebihara & Weakley 1992. Trichomanes intricatum Farrar 2011. Crepidomanes intricatum (Farrar) Ebihara & Weakley	Appalachian bristle fern, Appalachian trichomanes, Filmy fern, Weft fern	Native, CoC: 10, Endangered, DEC-A^[3]		NYFA: 1	USDA-N0 Go Botany ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies
↑ Weakley et al. (2011). "Nomenclatural changes in the flora of the southeastern United States". Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5(2): 443. ↑ Ebihara Atsushi, Donald R. Farrar & Motomi Ito (2008). "The sporophyte-less filmy fern of eastern North America Trichomanes intricatum (Hymenophyllaceae) has the chloroplast genome of an Asian species." American Journal of Botany, 95(12): 1645-1651. ↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (a) Endangered.

Order Schizaeales

The order Schizaeales contains the seemingly dissimilar curly-grass and climbing ferns.

Family Lygodiaceae

The Lygodiaceae (climbing-fern family) consists of the single genus Lygodium, which in New York, is represented by the endangered American climbing fern.

Lygodium

Schizaeales — Lygodiaceae — Lygodium
Genus Lygodium	Climbing fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.) Sw. 1800. Gisopteris palmata Bernh. 1806. Lygodium palmatum (Bernh.) Sw.	American climbing fern, Creeping fern, Hartford fern, Windsor fern	Native, CoC: 10, Endangered, DEC-A^[1] FACW Perennial, Herb-fern		NYFA: 1	USDA-N0 FNA Images Wikispecies
↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (a) Endangered.

Family Schizaeaceae

The Schizaeaceae (curly-grass family)...

Schizaea

Schizaeales — Schizaeaceae — Schizaea
Genus Schizaea Sm.	Curlygrass fern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Schizaea pusilla Pursh 1814. Schizaea pusilla Pursh	Curlygrass, Curly-grass fern, Little curlygrass fern	Native, CoC: 9, Endangered, DEC-A^[1] OBL Perennial, Herb-fern		NYFA: 1	USDA-N FNA Images Wikispecies
↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (a) Endangered.

Order Salviniales

The order Salviniales (the heterosporous or water ferns) contains the families Salviniaceae (mosquitoferns) and Marsileaceae (waterferns), which have few species represented in New York.

Family Salviniaceae

The family Salviniaceae contains the aquatic fern genera Azolla and Salvinia.

Azolla

Azolla (mosquito ferns) have previously been placed in their own family, the Azollaceae. The taxonomy of the New World Azolla species has been in dispute - four species have been reported in the literature: A. caroliniana, A. filiculoides, A. mexicana and A. microphylla, but Evrard and Van Hove (2004) concluded that only two species exist in America and, according to the priority rule for nomenclature, they should be named A. cristata and A. filiculoides.^[1]^[2] Azolla filiculoides has been excluded from the New York Flora Atlas.

↑ The New York Flora Atlas states: "Evrard and Hove (2004) provide evidence that the correct name for this taxon is A. cristata and that A. caroliniana, which has been misapplied to A. cristata, is a true synonym of A. filiculoides."
↑ C. Evrard & C. Van Hove (2004) Taxonmy of the American Azolla species (Azollaceae): a critical review Systematics and Geography of Plants 74:301-318

Salviniales — Salviniaceae — Azolla sect. Azolla
Genus Azolla sect. Azolla	Mosquitofern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Azolla cristata Kaulf. 1824. Azolla cristata Kaulf. 1827. Azolla portoricensis Spreng. 1830. Azolla mexicana in… 1844. Azolla mexicana in… 1845. Azolla mexicana in… auct. Azolla caroliniana non Willd. auct. Azolla filiculoides non Lam.	Mosquito fern, Carolina mosquitofern, Eastern mosquito-fern, Fairy-moss, Mosquito-plant Azolle de Caroline, Azolla de Caroline	Native, CoC: 2, Threatened, DEC-D^[1] OBL Annual, Herb-fern		NYFA: 2?	USDA-NX Go Botany VASCAN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies Note: ^[2]^[3]
Genus Azolla (excluded taxa)	Mosquitofern	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Azolla filiculoides Lam. 1783. Azolla filiculoides Lam. 1810. Azolla caroliniana Willd. 1810. Azolla magellanica Willd. 1824. Azolla microphylla Kaulf. 1827. Azolla arbuscula Desv.	Pacific mosquitofern, Pacific azolla, Fern azolla, Large mosquito fern, Duckweed fern, Redwater fern Azolle fausse-filicule, Azolla fausse-filicule	N. America native, N.Y. excluded		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-NX VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies
↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable. ↑ The New York Flora Atlas states: "Evrard and Hove (2004) provide evidence that the correct name for this taxon is A. cristata and that A. caroliniana, which has been misapplied to A. cristata, is a true synonym of A. filiculoides." ↑ C. Evrard & C. Van Hove (2004) Taxonmy of the American Azolla species (Azollaceae): a critical review Systematics and Geography of Plants 74:301-318

Salvinia

The two species of Salvinia previously reported in New York have been excluded in the New York Flora Atlas as of 9/18/2016.^[1]

The genus Salvinia (watermoss) contains mostly tropical, aquatic ferns. S. minima, mistakenly reported as S. natans has been reported from ponds on Staten Island and Rockland County, but these may have been aquarium escapes, as this genus is unlikely to be able to naturalize that far north.^[2]

DEC regulation 193.3 Protected native plants, lists Salvinia minima as Exploitably vulnerable,^[3] even though it is a Central and South American native that is considered to be invasive in the southeastern U.S.^[4]

Salviniales — Salviniaceae — Salvinia
Genus Salvinia Seg. (excluded species)	Watermoss	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Salvinia minima Baker 1886. Salvinia minima Baker auct. Salvinia natans non (L.) All. auct. Salvinia rotundifolia non Willd.	Floating-fern, Water-fern, Water spangles, Common watermoss	Introduced from S. America, N.Y. excluded, DEC-D^[5]		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies
Salvinia natans 1753. Marsilea natans L. 1785. Salvinia natans (L.) All.	Floating watermoss	Introduced from Eurasia, northen Africa, N.Y. excluded, Old World native		NYFA-Excluded	USDA-X ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies Note: ^[6]
↑ Salvinia minima, Weldy, Troy, David Werier, and Andrew Nelson. 2016 New York Flora Atlas. New York Flora Association, Albany, New York. ↑ Salvinia, New York Metropolitan Flora Project Science Staff, 02/16/2012. ↑ New York Codes, Rules and Regulations ↑ https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/salvinia/minima/ ↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable. ↑ The New York Flora Atlas states: "Most likely all New York material previously referred to as Salvinia natans is actually S. minima."

Family Marsileaceae

The Marsileaceae (water-clover family) has a single species (Marsilea quadrifolia) surviving outside of cultivation in New York.

Marsilea

Although fairly rare, European water-clover can have large local populations and is considered to be potentially invasive in the Finger Lakes and Lower Hudson Valley.^[1]^[2] According to the USDA-NRCS PLANTS database, Marsilea quadrifolia is native to parts of Ontario, Canada,^[3] but other sources list it as only a European native.^[4]

Salviniales — Marsileaceae — Marsilea
Genus Marsilea	Waterclover	N.Y. Status	Images	Distribution	NY NPT
Marsilea quadrifolia	European water-clover, European water fern, Water shamrock, European pepperwort Marsilée à quatre feuilles, Marsile à quatre feuilles	Introduced from Europe, Potentially invasive, NYIS: 45%^[1]		NYFA: X	USDA-XN‽ Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN FNA Images Wikispecies
↑ New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – Marsilea quadrifolia: U 45 - Finger Lakes & Lower Hudson .

← Lycophytes	Flora of New York — Pre-polypod ferns				→ Polypodiales
	Table of contents	Genus index	Protected species index	Invasive species index

[1] P.F. Stevens, (2001-2015). "Ferns s.l." Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, April 2015

[2] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants..

[3] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium lunaria. Endangered, S1/G5.

[4] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium minganense. Endangered, S1/G4G5.

[5] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium campestre. Endangered, S1/Gx.

[6] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium oneidense. Threatened, S2/G4.

[7] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Botrychium rugulosum. Endangered, S1/G3.

[8] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Equisetum palustre. Threatened, S2/G5.

[9] New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Equisetum pratense. Threatened, S2/G5.

[10] Christenhusz, M. J. M., Bangiolo, L., Chase, M. W., Fay, M. F., Husby, C., Witkus, M., & Viruel, J. (2019). Phylogenetics, classification and typification of extant horsetails (Equisetum, Equisetaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 189(4), 311-352. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boz002

[DECD-11] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable.

[DECD-12] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (d) Exploitably vulnerable.

[13] Weakley et al. (2011). "Nomenclatural changes in the flora of the southeastern United States". Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5(2): 443.

[14] Ebihara Atsushi, Donald R. Farrar & Motomi Ito (2008). "The sporophyte-less filmy fern of eastern North America Trichomanes intricatum (Hymenophyllaceae) has the chloroplast genome of an Asian species." American Journal of Botany, 95(12): 1645-1651.

[DECA-15] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (a) Endangered.

[DECA-16] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regulation §193.3, Protected Native Plants, (a) Endangered.

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Flora of New York/Ferns 1

Contents

Order Ophioglossales

Family Ophioglossaceae

Botrychium

Botrychium subg. Botrychium

Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris

Botrychium subg. Sceptridium

Ophioglossum

Order Equisetales

Family Equisetaceae

Equisetum

Equisetum subg. Equisetum

Equisetum subg. Hippochaete

Order Osmundales

Family Osmundaceae

Osmundastrum

Osmunda

Order Hymenophyllales

Family Hymenophyllaceae

Crepidomanes

Order Schizaeales

Family Lygodiaceae

Lygodium

Family Schizaeaceae

Schizaea

Order Salviniales

Family Salviniaceae

Azolla

Salvinia

Family Marsileaceae

Marsilea

Navigation menu

Flora of New York/Ferns 1

Order Ophioglossales

Family Ophioglossaceae

Botrychium

Botrychium subg. Botrychium

Botrychium subg. Osmundopteris

Botrychium subg. Sceptridium

Ophioglossum

Order Equisetales

Family Equisetaceae

Equisetum

Equisetum subg. Equisetum

Equisetum subg. Hippochaete

Order Osmundales

Family Osmundaceae

Osmundastrum

Osmunda

Order Hymenophyllales

Family Hymenophyllaceae

Crepidomanes

Order Schizaeales

Family Lygodiaceae

Lygodium

Family Schizaeaceae

Schizaea

Order Salviniales

Family Salviniaceae

Azolla

Salvinia

Family Marsileaceae

Marsilea

Navigation menu

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