A Checklist of Ferns in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana

Abstract

central Louisiana. Consideration of distribution of fern species in this region has been neglected except for incomplete references made by Brown and Correll (1942) and Moore (1956). The present study was initiated to prepare a checklist of species and their habitats within Lincoln Parish. Lincoln Parish is located in the central part of north Louisiana (Lat. 32?27' to 32?45'N and Long. 92025' to 92?55'W). The terrain consists of low, rolling, sandy or clay hills. The present vegetation is mainly second growth coniferous forest, with hardwood species restricted to small stream valleys and in related swampy or boggy regions. A preliminary survey indicated the existence of a number of probable fern habitats, such as open fence rows, open woodland, dense woodland, open bogs, and shaded bogs. The selection of twelve sites for examination and collection of fern species was made to include all the habitat types. Prior to 1962, ten fern species had been reported from this area. These were: Osmunda cinnamomea, Athyrium filix-femina, Thelypteris hexagonoptera, Polystichum acrostichoides, Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum (Brown & Correll, 1938); Botrychium virginianum, Botrychium dissectum var. obliquum, Woodwardia areolata, Onoclea sensibilis, and Polypodium polypodiodes (Moore, 1956). During the present study, six species previously unreported from this area were found: Aspleniuim platyneuron, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Woodwardia virginica, Thelypteris normalis, Ophioglossulm vulgatum, and Cystopteris fragilis. In addition, the reported, but unconfirmed, presence of the following species were noted: Woodsia obtusa, Athyrium thelypterioides, Adiantum pedatum, and Lygodilum japonicum. 33