Eno River State Park, North Carolina (November 2004)

Duke Natural History Society Fern Trip

As part of the Pryer lab’s outreach program, lab member Jordan Metzgar led this fern hike at the Few’s Ford area of Eno River State Park to excite and educate people about the natural history of ferns. The trip was sponsored by the Duke Natural History Society and drew a crowd of about 18 people. We hiked the Buckquarter Trail and parts of the Holden’s Mill and Ridge Trails, encountering 10 species of fern and fern allies along the way. The species list and photo gallery from the trip are posted below. (All photos by N. Nagalingum. Text by Jordan Metzgar.)

Ferns and Fern Allies Encountered
Athyrium aspleniodes (southern lady fern)
Asplenium platyneuron (ebony spleenwort)
Botrychium dissectum (cut-leaved grape fern)
Cheilanthes lanosa (hairy lipfern)
Diphasiastrum digitatum (common running cedar)
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)
Pleopeltis polypodioides (resurrection fern)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)
Selaginella apoda (meadow spikemoss)
Woodsia obtusa (blunt-lobed woodsia)