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Adiantum viridimontanum — Green Mountain maidenhair fern

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Facts

Green Mountain maidenhair fern is a rare endemic found only in northern Vermont and Maine, and southern Quebec. It inhabits steep cliffs, talus slopes, and thin soils of woodlands and forest edges, on serpentine bedrock. Unlike other globally rare species, its populations appear relatively stable (at least up to 2001). The greatest threats to this species are mining, road building, over-collection, logging and development.

Habitat

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, forest edges, forests, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Maine
  • Vermont
Show all characteristics
  • Leaves

    Features of leaves
    the petiole (leaf stalk or stipe) appears to fork into two equal halves
  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Maine
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • cliffs, balds, or ledges
    • edges of forests
    • forests
    • ridges or ledges
    • talus or rocky slopes

Wetland status

Not classified

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
absent
Maine
present
Massachusetts
absent
New Hampshire
absent
Rhode Island
absent
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Vermont
rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

3.  Adiantum viridimontanum Paris NC

Green Mountain maidenhair fern. ME, VT. Serpentine cliffs and talus, thin soil of woodlands 
and forest edges on serpentine bedrock.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Adiantum pedatum
Andiantum aleuticum

Family

Pteridaceae

Genus

Adiantum