Plant
Oak Fern
Gymnocarpium dryopterisAlso known as Western Oakfern, Common Oak Fern, Northern Oak Fern
Delicate triangular fronds emerge each spring from creeping underground rhizomes, forming vibrant bright-green colonies across damp forest floors. The soft, three-part blades feature distinctly jointed stalks that bend backward at an angle, giving each frond a horizontal orientation. These shade-loving plants thrive in acidic soil near mossy rocks, stream banks, and rotting logs in cool temperate woodlands.
WoodlandFernShade-Loving
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Moths
ThreatsCanopy removal, logging, habitat degradation
HabitatsDamp coniferous forests, moist ravines, mossy woods
Life spanPerennial
Classification
- FamilyCystopteridaceae
- SpeciesGymnocarpium dryopteris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look on shady, moss-covered banks and decaying logs where moisture remains constant throughout summer.
- Identification: Examine the frond stalk for a characteristic knee-like bend where the three main divisions branch out.
- Photography: Diffused shade or overcast weather highlights the delicate bright-green foliage without harsh reflections.
Forest Companion No machine-readable author provided. MPF assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
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