The Classification System used on the page is from the Kew Royal Botanical Garden / Plants of the World Online. Not all sources agree on accepted names vs. synonyms.
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.
Monthly calendar showing when to collect spores from ferns
Botrychium simplex
Little grape fern
jltasset
CC by NC 4.0
Subclass: Ophioglossidae
grape ferns, adder's-tongues and moonworts
Order: Ophioglossales
Family: Ophioglossaceae Martinov
Genus: Botrychium
Species: Botrychium matricariifolium, Daisey-leaf moonwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 204
Species: Botrychium simplex, Little grape fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 204
Botrychium matricariifolium
Daisey-leaf moonwort
Walter Welss
CC BY-NC 4.0
Subclass: Ophioglossidae
grape ferns, adder's-tongues and moonworts
Order: Ophioglossales
Family: Ophioglossaceae Martinov
Species: Ophioglossum vulgatum, Southern adder's-tongue fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
Ophioglossum vulgatum
Southern Adder's tongue fern
Elena Sherehora
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Hymenophyllales
Family: Hymenophyllaceae
Genus: Trichomanes
Species: Trichomanes intricatum
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 233
Trichomanes intricatum, Weft fern
Étienne Léveillé-Bourret
CC BY NC
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Osmundales
Family: Osmundaceae
Genus: Osmunda
Species: Osmunda claytoniana, Interrupted fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 229
Spores mature March - June
Species: Osmunda regalis, Royal Fern
NC Native: (distribution in M/P/C)
Osmunda claytonianana, Jill Lee, CC-by-SA 2.0
Subclass: Polypodiinae (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 bradleyi, Bradley's spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 160
Species: Asplenium montanum, Mountain spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 165
Species: Asplenium pinnatifidum, Lobed spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 166
Species: Asplenium platyneuron, Ebony spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 167
planted 01/2024, also harvested at local plant rescue
Species: Asplenium resiliens, Black-stemmed spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 170
Species: Asplenium rhizophyllum, Walking fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 171
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes, growing indoors
Species: Asplenium ruta-muraria var. cryptolepis, Wall rue
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 172
Species: Asplenium trichomanes, Maidenhair spleenwort
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 176
Asplenium platyneuron
Ebony Spleenwort
David Walmer
CC by NC 4.0
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Athyrium Roth 'Lady'
Species: Athyrium angustum, Northern lady fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 184
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes
Species: Athyrium asplenioides, Southern lady fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 185
fern in Walmer Woodlands?
Athyrium asplenoides
Peggy A. Lopipero-Langmo
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Cystopteris
Species: Cystopteris bulbifera, Bulblet bladder fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 248
Species: Cystopteris fragilis, Fragile fern, Brittle fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 249
Species: Cystopteris protrusa, Southern bladder fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 251
Species: Cystopteris tennesseensis, Tennessee bladder fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
Species: Cystopteris tenuis, Mackay's brittle fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
Cystopteris bulbifera
Daderot
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Onoclea
Species: Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
Onoclea sensibilis
C T Johansson
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Thelypteris
Species: Thelypteris noveboracensis, New York fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
NC State Plant Toolbox, NCBG, Flora of North America
Native Plant Trust, Wikipedia, Sessa field guide p. 131
iNaturalist, USDA
spores mature: May - August
spores collected ?
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes, naturally occurring
habitat: damp woods, seepy areas
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Woodwardia
Species: Woodwardia virginica, Virginia chain fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
NC State Plant Toolbox, NCBG, Flora of North America, USDA
Native Plant Trust, Wikipedia, Sessa field guide p. 137
iNaturalist, USDA
spores mature: June - September
spores collected ?
fern in Walmer Woodlands?
habitat: moist habitats, roadside ditches, edge of forest
Woodwardia virginica
Virginia Chain Fern
Panosse
CC BY-NC)
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
Genus: Dennstaedtia
Species: Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 256
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Hay-scented fern
Erik Schiff
no rights reserved
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Dryopteris (wood ferns, male ferns or buckler ferns)
Species: Dryopteris marginalis, Marginal wood fern
NC Native (distribution)
WW: spores
Dryopteris marginalis
Marginal wood fern
Misha Zitser
CC BY-NC
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Polypodium
Species: Polypodium virginianum, Rockcap fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes, occurs naturally
NC State Plant Toolbox, NCBG, Flora of North America,
Native Plant Trust, Wikipedia, Sessa field guide p. ?
iNaturalist, USDA
spores mature: range
spores collected (date)
habitat:
Polypodium virginianum
Rockcap fern
Martine Lapointe
CC BY
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Polypodiales, >80% of ferns living today, fossil records date to Early Cretaceous period.
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Polystichium
Species: Polystichum acrostichoides, Christmas fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. ?
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes, occurs naturally
NC State Plant Toolbox, NCBG, Flora of North America,
Native Plant Trust, Wikipedia, Sessa field guide p. ?
iNaturalist, USDA
spores mature: range
spores collected (date)
habitat:
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Fern
David Walmer
CC by NC 4.0
Subclass: Polypodiinae (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, southern maidenhair
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution (threatened in NC)
NC State Plant Toolbox, NCBG, Flora of North America
Native Plant Trust, Wikipedia, Sessa field guide p. 125
iNaturalist, USDA
spores mature: June - July
spores collected ?
fern in Walmer Woodlands? yes
habitat: damp, shaded, along streams, cliffs, masonary
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Black maidenhair or Souther maidenhair fern
Steven Clinton
CC BY-NC 4.0
Subclass: Polypodiinae (leptosporangiate ferns)
Order: Salviniales
Family: Salviniaceae
Genus: Azolla
Species: Azolla caroliniana, Carolina mosquito fern
Worldwide distribution, NC distribution
Sessa field guide p. 189
Azolla caroliniana
sphaerichthys