Classification system used by Plants of the World Online
Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
Phylum: Streptophyta
This phylum includes the charophyte green algae found in fresh water and all land plants. Species in this phylum all reproduce sexually by conjugation.
Class: Equisetopsida (spore-bearing vascular plants)
This class includes primitive spore-bearing vascular plants. In this class are horsetails, whisk ferns and ferns. Many species in this class are extinct and are only known by fossil records dating back to the Devonian Period.
Thus far I have identified 32 fern species that are native to North Carolina.
They are all listed below.
Monthly calendar showing when to collect spores from ferns
Subclass: Equisetidae
Order: Equisetales
Family: Equisetaceae Rich. ex DC.
Genus: Equisetum L.
Species: Equisetum arvense, Common Horsetail, Scouring rush
(Worldwide distribution) (NC distribution)
NC State Plant Toolbox, US Forest, Wiki, Native Plant Trust
Equisetum arvense, Evelyn Simak_CC-BY-SA 2.0
Subclass: Ophioglossidae
whisk ferns, grape ferns, adder's-tongues and moonworts
Order: Ophioglossales
Family: Ophioglossaceae Martinov
Genus: Botrychium Sw.
Species: Botrychium biternatum Underw., southern grape fern
(Worldwide distribution) (NC distribution)
) Flora of North America, USDA, iNatyralist, ,
found growing naturally in Walmer Woodlands
Species: Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., rattlesnake Fern
(Worldwide distribution) (NC distribution)
NC State Plant Toolbox, Flora of North America, USDA
Genus Ophioglossum
Species: Ophioglossum vulgatum L., southern adder's-tongue fern
(Worldwide distribution) (NC distribution)
Flora of North America, USDA, Wiki,
Botrychium biternatum Underw.
southern grape fern
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Osmundales
Family: Osmundaceae
Genus: Osmunda
Species: Osmunda claytoniana L., Interrupted Fern
NC Native: (distribution)
Species: Osmunda regalis, Royal Fern
NC Native: (distribution in M/P/C)
Osmunda claytonianana, Jill Lee, CC-by-SA 2.0
Subclass: Polypodiidae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
wiki,
Genus: Asplenium L. ‘Spleenwort’
Species: Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.,
bareroot planted indoors 01/2024
Species: Asplenium trichomanes L., Maidenhair Spleenwort,
Genus: Athyrium Roth 'Lady'
Species: Athyrium angustum, ‘Lady in Red’
planted
Species: Athyrium otophorum (Miq.) Koidz., Eared Lady Fern
not a NC native (distribution)
Genus: Onoclea L.
Species: Onoclea sensibilis L. Sensitive Fern
NC Native (distribution)
Species: Onoclea struthiopteris (L.) Roth, Ostrich or Fiddlehead Fern
not a NC Native (distribution)
Genus: Thelypteris Schmidel
Species: Thelypteris noveboracensis (L.) Nieuwl.
NC Native (distribution)
Genus: Woodwardia
Species: Woodwardia unigemmata (Makino) Nakai, Jewelled Chain Fern
not a NC Native (distribution)
Ebony Spleenwort
Subclass: Polypodiidae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Arachniodes Blume ‘Holly’
Species: Arachniodes chinensis (Rosenst.) Ching, East Indian Holly Fern
not a NC Native (distribution)
Genus: Ctenitis (C.Chr.) C.Chr.
Species: Ctenitis subglandulosa (Hance) Ching ‘So Fine’
not a NC Native (distribution)
Genus: Cyrtomium C.Presl
Species: Cyrtomium fortunei J.Sm. (died)
Genus: Dryopteris (wood ferns, male ferns or buckler ferns)
Species: Dryopteris erythrosora (D.C.Eaton) Kuntze 'Brilliance',
Autimn Fern, not a NC Native (distribution)
Species: Dryopteris lepidopoda Hayata, Sunset Fern
Species: Dryopteris marginalis (L.) A.Gray, Marginal Wood Fern
NC Native (distribution)
WW: spores
NC Herbarium, NC State Plant Toolbox
Genus: Polypodium
Species: Polypodium virginianum L., Rockcap Fern
Genus: Polystichium
Species: Polystichum acrostichoides var. acrostichoides, Christmas Fern ***
Species: Polystichum munitum (Kaulf.) C.Presl, Western Sword Fern
Species: Polystichum luctuosum (Kunze) T.Moore, Tassel Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides var. acrostichoides, Christmas Fern
Subclass: Polypodiidae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Adiantum L ‘Maidenhair’
Species: Adiantum capillus-veneris L., Southern Maidenhair
NC Native (distribution),
WW: plant / NCBG: spores
spores ripe June - July
Species: Adiantum pedatum L., Northern Maidenhair
NC Native (distribution)
WW: plant / NCBG: spores
spores ripe June - August
Adiantum pedatum L.
Northern Maidenhair