Genus: Trichomanes — bristle fern
In New England, our single species in the genus occurs only as a gametophyte, and has a thread-like growth form. It makes felt-like colonies on shaded rock, in cave entrances, and under sheltered overhangs. Reference: Farrar (1993).
![Leaf: Trichomanes intricatum. ~ By Robbin Moran. ~ Copyright © 2025 Robbin Moran. ~ rmoran[at]nybg.org ~ Plant Systematics - www.plantsystematics.org/](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Hymenophyllaceae/trichomanes-intricatum-le-rmoran.jpg)
![Plant form: Trichomanes intricatum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Hymenophyllaceae/trichomanes-intricatum-ha-ahaines.jpg)
Family
Hymenophyllaceae (filmy fern family)
This genus’s species in New England
Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key