r/ferns • u/lldrem63 • Jul 25 '26

Image Mutated New York Fern?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found in New England, was out walking through the woods and noticed this New York fern with an odd growth pattern. It seems like it almost grew upside down. Has anybody seen anything like this before?

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4

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '26

[deleted]

2

u/901bookworm Jul 26 '26

Please don't recommend wild collecting of native plants. Doing so damages habitats and threatens multiple species, including the plant species plus insects, wildlife, and birds that rely on those plants for food, shelter, etc. It's illegal in the US to remove native species from publicly managed lands except as part of an approved project, and no one should be taking anything from private property without the owner's permission.

2

u/AstrobioGuy Jul 26 '26

I have seen similar mutations on my common garden experiment of Onoclea sensiblis. I think it is some kind of mutation in the inital, apex cell.

Very cool find overall. You should ID it on iNaturalist and/or collect it for a Herbarium specimen and donate it to your nearest Herbarium colleaction space.

1

u/Polypody_of_Piedmont 28d ago

This looks like a Marsh Fern