Gymnocarpium jessoense — Nahanni oak fern
![Leaf: Gymnocarpium jessoense. ~ By Elizabeth Farnsworth. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/gymnocarpium-jessoense-le-efarnsworth.jpg)
![Plant form: Gymnocarpium jessoense. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Woodsiaceae/gymnocarpium-jessoense-ha-ahaines.jpg)
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Facts
Nahanni oak fern has a distribution that includes Canada and some northern states. In New England it is a very rare fern of high-pH cliffs and talus slopes in Vermont.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- ridges or ledges
- talus or rocky slopes
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- absent
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
ssp. parvulum
- Vermont
- unrankable (S-rank: SU)
Subspecies and varieties
Our subspecies is Gymnocarpium jessoense (Koidzumi) Koidzumi ssp. parvulum.
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
2. Gymnocarpium jessoense (Koidzumi) Koidzumi ssp. parvulum Sarvela NC
Nahanni oak fern. Gymnocarpium continentale (Petrov) Pojark • VT. High-pH rock of cliffs and talus slopes.
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Gymnocarpium dryopteris:
- leaf essentially glabrous, and basal leaflets and basiscopic leafules spreading, not curving toward plant apex (vs. G. jessoense, with the leaf stipitate-glandular on petiole, rachis, and abaxial blade surface, and basal leaflets and basiscopic leafules curving toward apex of plant).
Synonyms
- Gymnocarpium continentale (Petrov) Pojark