New York Fern
Please click on images to obtain photographs of detailed chrateristics.
All ferns collected on Antler's Point, Raquette Lake, NY unless otherwise noted.
Thelypteris noveboracensis
New York Fern
Yellow-green frond is "football shaped." Lowest leaflets tapered to the base. The indusium is very light in color and is a rounded kidney shape.
Pteridium aquilinum
Bracken Fern
Sori are found under the frond near the leaf margins. The sori are silvery-green when young and brown when aged. The blades are nearly parallel to the ground and divided in to 3 parts. The bracken fern is the most common fern in this area. There have been cases noted of cows poisoned from the consumption of bracken fern. There are also cases of stomach cancer linked to bracken fern in Japan.
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Hayscented Fern
Light green frond, three times dissected, frond is finely divided. Hairs on stem are tipped with balls when held to the light. Vascular bundle is horseshoe shaped. Sori are bowl shaped with black dots.
Osmunda Claytoniana
Interrupted Fern
Sterile leaflets on the frond are "interrupted" by brown fertile leaflets. Vascular bundles are horseshoe shaped.
Osmunda regalis
Royal Fern
This fern resembles a shrub and is found in wet areas. The leaflets are widely spaced and sterile. The fertile, spore producing structures are found at the top of the sterile fronds.
Onoclea sensibilis
Sensitive Fern
Once dissected dimorphic fern (contains separate spore producing structures). Veination is netted. Lower leaflets may point downwards as in Northern Beech Fern.
Athyrium Filix-femina
Lady Fern
Similar in appearance to the hayscented fern in that the Lady fern is lacy. However, fronds grow in a ring. Crossection of stalk contains 2 strap-like vascular bundles. Indusium resembles a hard taco shell and the many sori resemble ground beef filling. "Legs" of the lady fern are covered with black scale or "stubble." Lower leaflets are perpendicular to rachis.
Characteristics are similar to the Lowland Lady Fern, however lowest leaflets point downwards. Indusium were bright green when collected. Collected on Ampersand Mountain trail.
Dryopteris intermedia
Fancy Wood Fern
Frond grows in a ring and are shaped like a vase. Crossection contains a ring of 5 vascular bundles. The rachis of this fern is covered with brown scale. Rounded kidney shaped indusium.
Dryopteris spinulosa
Spinulose Wood Fern
Similar to fancy wood fern. Inner subleaflets on lowest leaflet are much longer than outer subleaflets. Collected on base of Whiteface Mountain.
Thelypteris phegopteris
Northern Beech Fern
Small triangular frond with 2 downward pointing leaflets at base of frond. Fronds are similar to sensitive fern except that they are dissected.
Polypodium vulgare
Rock Fern
Common Polypody
Small, once dissected fern that grows on mossy rocks. Sori are large and yellow when young. Older sori are orange-brown. Collected at Ferd's Bog trailhead.
Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon Fern
Large fern. Fronds grow in a ring. Green fronds are sterile and the lower rachis is covered with cinnamon colored "fuzzy" scale. Brown fertile fronds are found in center of frond ring. These fertile frond resemble dried up fronds.
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Fern
Dark evergreen fern. Leaflets are shaped like stockings. Numerous spore producing structures are found at the top of selected fronds. Collected on Goodnow Mountain trail.
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern
Large fern with plume-like fronds. Green fronds are sterile. Fertile stalks are found in the center of the ring. The fertile "beads" are green when young and brown when ripe. This is the only species of fern of which the fiddlehead is edible. Collected on Long Point, Raquette Lake.
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Oak Fern
Small delicate fern, rachis is thin and wiry. The Oak Fern resembles a mini-bracken fern. Collected on Ampersand Mountain trail.