Plant · GBIF taxon 7319895
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
osmundastrum cinnamomeumAlso known as Buckhorn Fern, Cinnamon Royal Fern
Cinnamon ferns produce distinct fertile fronds that emerge in early spring, turning a rich cinnamon brown as spore-bearing structures ripen. Large, sterile green fronds spread outwards in a dramatic vase-shaped crown that can reach over a meter in height. These long-lived perennials anchor boggy stream banks and moist forest understories, creating crucial shelter for woodland salamanders and ground-nesting birds.
Moisture LovingSpore-BearingWoodland Perennial
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Fiddlehead Borers
- Slugs
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsWetland destruction and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsBogs, swamps, wet woodlands, and stream margins
Life spanPerennial (several decades)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOsmundales
- FamilyOsmundaceae
- GenusOsmundastrum
- Speciesosmundastrum cinnamomeum
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
- Fertile Fronds: Look for the distinctive cinnamon-colored central fertile stalks in late spring.
- Habitat Identification: Search in boggy, acidic soils and shaded woodland edges near water.
- Foliage Spacing: Observe how fronds radiate in a neat, bowl-shaped vaselike rosette.
Look-Alike (c) Marilyne Busque-Dubois, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marilyne Busque-Dubois · cc-by
Co-Occurring Species (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Norton · cc-by
Wetland Neighbor (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark · cc-by
Close Relative E Wusk / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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