Record #:

8729

Author(s):

Ellis, Harry

Abstract:

Ferns look fragile, but they are among the earth's oldest plants, dating back 300 million years to the Carboniferous Age. Unlike flowering plants, that may have many thousands of different kinds, there are less than 400 species of ferns on the American continent north of Mexico. In North Carolina ferns occur throughout the state, but it is in the mountains where ferns are found in large numbers of species and in abundance of individuals. Ellis identifies ferns common to North Carolina, including fiddleheads, cinnamon, climbing, walking, and mountain spleenwort.

Source:

Wildlife in North Carolina (NoCar SK 431 W54x), Vol. 50 Issue 6, June 1986, p18-23, il

Subject(s):

Ferns