This website documents the fern and lycophyte species known from selected natural areas in the North Carolina. The project compiles available records and field observations to produce species checklists for the ferns occuring in these Piedmont preserves.
Species records used to compile the checklists come from several sources:
- Herbarium collection records available through the Pteridophyte Portal
- Records from the North Carolina State Parks Natural Resources Inventory Database
- Research-grade iNaturalist observations
- Personal field observations made during extensive visits to these natural preserves
Each species entry indicates the sources supporting its occurrence within the park or preserve. Historical or unverified reports of additional species will be summarized separately.
The site currently includes:
- Species checklists for:
- Eno River State Park
- Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
- Background information on fern and lycophyte taxonomy and systematics
- Information about the project and its sources
The varied habitats of the river corridors, rolling hills, and rocky slopes of the North Carolina Piedmont support a diverse assemblage of fern species. This project aims to document that diversity and make the information easily accessible to visitors, naturalists, and anyone interested in the fern and lycophyte flora of this area.