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Parathelypteris noveboracensis — New York fern

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Facts

New York fern grows in clumps and its blades are disctinctive as they taper sharply at both the base and the tip. It can spread rapidly but is relatively easy to control, making it a popular fern for gardens.

Habitat

Forests, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, wetland margins (edges of wetlands)

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
  • terrestrial
  • wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Leaf divisions
  • the leaf blade is compound (divided into leaflets)
  • the leaf blade is twice compound (divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets)
Plant growth form
the leaves grow from a rhizome growing at or below the ground
Spore-bearing leaflets
the spore-bearing fronds are similar in size and shape to the sterile fronds
Sorus shape
the sori are circular or kidney-shaped
Leaf stalk scales
the leaf stalk has scales
Leaf stalk hairs
  • the leaf stalk has hairs
  • there are no hairs on the leaf stalk
Leaf blade length
20–50 cm
Leaf vein tips
the veins go all the way to the edge of the leaf blade
Show all characteristics

  • Growth form

    Life form
    the plant is herbaceous and terrestrial
    Life stage
    the plant is visible as a typical leaf-bearing fern (sporophyte)
    Spore-bearing leaflets
    the spore-bearing fronds are similar in size and shape to the sterile fronds

  • Leaves

    Features of leaves
    there are no special features on the leaves
    Leaf blade length
    20–50 cm
    Leaf blade shape
    the leaf blades are widest near the middle and tapered towards the base and tip (elliptic)
    Leaf blade tip shape
    the tip of the leaf blade is rounded
    Leaf blade width
    At least 8 cm
    Leaf divisions
    • the leaf blade is compound (divided into leaflets)
    • the leaf blade is twice compound (divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets)
    Leaf lifespan
    the leaves drop off in winter
    Leaf stalk color
    yellow to brown
    Leaf stalk hairs
    • the leaf stalk has hairs
    • there are no hairs on the leaf stalk
    Leaf stalk length
    40–250 mm
    Leaf stalk relative length
    the leaf stalk is up to a quarter as long as the blade
    Leaf stalk scale location
    the scales are present only on the lower half of the leaf stalk
    Leaf stalk scales
    the leaf stalk has scales
    Leaf stalk vessels
    2 bundles
    Leaf vein branching
    the secondary veins of the leaf blade are not branched
    Leaf vein tips
    the veins go all the way to the edge of the leaf blade
    Leaflet relative size
    the bottom leaflets are less than half as long as the leaflets from the middle of the frond
    Leaflet stalks
    the leaflets do not have stalks
    Lobe or leaflet length
    30–130 mm
    Lobe or leaflet pairs
    22–43
    Lobe or leaflet shape
    • the lobe or leaflet is extremely narrow, thread-like
    • the lobe or leaflet is rectangular but with rounded ends (oblong)
    Lobe or leaflet width
    10–25 mm
    Plant growth form
    the leaves grow from a rhizome growing at or below the ground
    final leaf segment margin
    • the topmost lobe or leaflet of the leaf blade has a smooth or lobed edge
    • the topmost lobe or leaflet of the leaf blade has an edge with teeth

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • edges of wetlands
    • forests
    • shores of rivers or lakes
    • swamps

  • Spores or spore cones

    Sorus features
    there are no special features on the sorus
    Sorus shape
    the sori are circular or kidney-shaped
    Sporangia location
    the spores are clustered on sori on the lower surface of the leaf blade
    Sporangium type
    the sporangia are opaque without an annulus and usually without a stalk (leptosporangiate)
    Spore forms
    there is only one type of spore present

Wetland status

Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Massachusetts
widespread (S-rank: S5)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

1.  Parathelypteris noveboracensis (L.) Ching N

New York fern. Dryopteris noveboracensis (L.) Gray; Polypodium noveboracense L.; 
 Thelypteris noveboracensis (L.) Nieuwl. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Mesic to wet-mesic soils of forests, frequently associated with stream channels, seeps, and swamp borders.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Parathelypteris simulata:
lower leaflets only somewhat reduced in size and leaf blade with minute red to orange resin glands (vs. P.noveboracensis, with lower leaflets gradually reduced so that the lower ones are much shorter than the middle ones and leaf blade lacking resin glands).

Synonyms

  • Dryopteris noveboracensis (L.) Gray
  • Polypodium noveboracense L.
  • Thelypteris noveboracensis (L.) Nieuwl.

Family

Thelypteridaceae

Genus

Parathelypteris