Ferns

Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana),
blackened fronds are reproductive structures.

NPS Photo

Ferns can be discovered in almost any habitat within Shenandoah National Park. These primitive vascular plants reproduce through spores instead of seeds, and can live anywhere from the rich moist soil around a spring, to the dry crevice in a cliff face. The Park supports approximately 60 species of fern and an additional 20 species of related spore producing plants (fern allies) such as club mosses and horsetails.

Shenandoah's mid-Atlantic location straddles the ranges of both northern and southern adapted species creating relatively high fern diversity. Some species in the park such as the Goldie's wood fern (Dryopteris goldiana), and the rusty cliff fern (Woodsia ilvensis) are adapted to high elevation habitats characteristic of more northern forests. Other species such as the Netted chain fern (Woodwardia areolata), and the hairy lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa) are more characteristic of the southern states.

 

Walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum)

NPS Photo

Many people associate ferns with a highly divided leaf shape, but not all ferns look this way. Ferns can grow in a myriad of shapes and sizes. Shenandoah supports not only the southern adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum) with its simple un-divided leaf measuring only six centimeters (about three-inches) tall when full-grown, all the way up to species like the royal fern (Osmunda regalis) with its large divided leaves that can grow up to 180 centimeters (over six feet) tall.

Some of the largest displays of ferns in the Park can be seen along the northern section of Skyline drive near Elkwallow wayside. Here you can see hay scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) growing throughout the understory for many miles. Wetland ferns such as the meter (three foot) tall interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) can be viewed along the Limberlost trail, and at the base of the Stonyman nature trail.

View the complete species list of ferns and lycophytes.

 

NPSpecies Lists

NPSpecies is a consolidated database where you can find the latest information on any species from any National Park Service unit. This resource lets you search for species information on specific parks and allows you to create your own itemized species lists.

How Does it Work?
Use the dropdown menus below to select the species category that you'd like to view. You can choose to get a checklist or to get the full list, which includes more information about each species. Once you make your selections, click on the view PDF button. This will generate your customized report. From here, you can click on the large Print button at the top of the document to print the report, or save the report by clicking on the blue-and-white floppy disk symbol to save the report.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Shenandoah National Park

Select a Species Category (optional):

All Amphibians Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Vascular Plants

Get Checklist Get Full List List Differences

Species attribute definitions

Search results will be displayed here.

Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

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Related Information

Lellinger, D.B. 1985. Ferns and Fern-Allies of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

Mazzeo, P.M. 1981. Ferns and Fern Allies of Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah Natural History Association, Luray, Virginia.

The American Fern Society

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