# New York fern (*Amauropelta noveboracensis*) The New York fern is a lovely green plant that grows in shady places. Its delicate leaves are shaped like little fans and can make any forest feel magical! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 38 - **Habitat:** Forests ![New York fern](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/200469407/medium.jpeg) Photo: Michael J. Papay, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/200469407) ## Appearance The New York fern has delicate, bright to yellowish-green fronds that are distinctly narrow at both the base and tip, giving them a tapered appearance. Each frond is twice-divided, creating a soft, lacy texture, often forming dense, graceful clumps. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Thelypteridaceae - **Genus:** Amauropelta ## Interesting facts - Even though it’s called "New York fern," it grows across much of eastern North America. - Fossils show ferns, like this one, were growing on Earth when dinosaurs roamed! - Instead of flowers, ferns reproduce using millions of tiny, dust-like spores released from their fronds. - This fern's fronds often turn a beautiful golden-yellow in autumn before disappearing for winter! ## Special abilities - **Spore Shooter:** New York fern has tiny spores on its fronds that float away on the wind to grow new ferns, spreading widely without seeds! - **Underground Explorer:** New York fern can spread using underground stems called rhizomes, allowing it to pop up in new spots and form colonies. - **Shady Survivor:** New York fern thrives in deep shade where many plants struggle, thanks to its specialized leaves that capture faint light. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) — Hides under its fronds for moisture and protection. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May occasionally browse on its tender young fronds. - **Eats:** Dusky Slug (*Arion subfuscus*) — Feeds on the fern's fronds and delicate tissues. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Nonvascular](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nonvascular): This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify New York fern? Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is New York fern? 30-90 cm ### How wide does New York fern spread? 30-60 cm ### Is New York fern edible? No ### Is New York fern toxic? None ### What is New York fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is New York fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Catskill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/catskill-park) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Connecticut College Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/connecticut-college-arboretum) — Connecticut, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see New York fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/new-york-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [New York fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-york-fern)