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Thelypteris noveboracensis
(L.) Nieuwl.
New York Fern
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteris noveboracensis is a species of fern in the family Thelypteridaceae. It is native to eastern North America, and can be cultivated as an ornamental.
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Description
Thelypteris noveboracensis is a smallish, terrestrial fern with creeping rhizomes/stems that are about 2 mm in diameter. Leaves are deciduous, monomorphic (not differentiated between the sterile and fertile ones), typically up to 40 to 85 cm long on a stipe that is 4 to 25 cm long, straw-colored, and with pale ovate scales at the base. Leaves and petioles are densely covered with hairs, about 1 mm long, mainly on the lower side. The leaf blade is elliptic in outline, 15 to 60 cm long, pinnate-pinnatifid. The leaf is divided into many pinnae (leaflets), and these pinnae are themselves pinnatifid, nearly divided to the base. Pinnae are 3 to 9 cm long and about 1 to 2.5 cm wide, divided into oblong to linear segments. The lower pinnae are gradually reduced in size, and the lowermost pinnae can be very small. Sori are found in pairs, on the underside of the leaflet segments; they are round, covered with tan indusia (FNAEC 1993).
Thelypteris noveboracensis is distinguished from some similar species, Thelypteris palustris and T. simulata, by its lower leaflets, which are fairly reduced. In those species, the lower leaflets are of a similar size as the middle leaflets. A similar species, Thelypteris nevadensis, has sparser, shorter hairs, but is found in the Pacific Northwest and its range does not overlap (FNAEC 1993).
Thelypteris noveboracensis is distinguished from some similar species, Thelypteris palustris and T. simulata, by its lower leaflets, which are fairly reduced. In those species, the lower leaflets are of a similar size as the middle leaflets. A similar species, Thelypteris nevadensis, has sparser, shorter hairs, but is found in the Pacific Northwest and its range does not overlap (FNAEC 1993).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Thelypteris noveboracensis can be grown as an ornamental in gardens, particularly woodland gardens, as it is deer-resistant. It prefers full sun or partial shade and moist soil, in USDA zones 2 to 8 (Soderstrom 2009).
Distribution
Thelypteris noveboracensis grows in moist woods, often around water sources such as streams and swamps. It is native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Michigan, south to Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, east to North Carolina (FNAEC 1993).
Status
References
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Soderstrom, N. 2009. Deer-Resistant Landscaping: Proven Advice and Strategies for Outwitting Deer and 20 Other Pesky Mammals. New York: Rodale.
Soderstrom, N. 2009. Deer-Resistant Landscaping: Proven Advice and Strategies for Outwitting Deer and 20 Other Pesky Mammals. New York: Rodale.
Description
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