NYBG EcoFlora June EcoQuest Challenge

FERN FORAY

Ferns are an evolutionary lineage of plants with vein structure like Conifers and Flowering Plants but that reproduce by spores like Mosses. In 1800 there were 60 indigenous Fern species in New York City (including Fern relatives such as Horsetail (Equisetum), Club Moss (Lycopodium), Spikemoss (Selaginella) and Quilwort (Isoetes). It is estimated that 30 percent of the original Fern flora are locally extinct and 20 percent are rare—primarily due to habitat loss. The Japanese Painted Fern is spreading from gardens and may be the first exotic Fern to naturalize in our area. How many Ferns can you find?

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium nipponicum) growing out of a wall and probably spread from nearby planting.