Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155709
Element CodePPDRY0D030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyCystopteridaceae
GenusGymnocarpium
Other Common NamesCommon Oak Fern (EN) Gymnocarpe du chêne (FR) Western Oakfern (EN) western oakfern (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsThis record represents the narrow concept of Gymnocarpium dryopteris , excluding G. appalachianum and G. disjunctum. This species "is a fertile allotetraploid species that arose following hybridization between G. appalachianum and G. disjunctum," and its wide distribution and sympatry with other North American Gymnocarpium has led to hybridization, including Gymnocarpium × brittonianum (FNA 1993, vol. 2). The generic placement of this taxon, in Gymnocarpium, is in accordance with the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (2016).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-14
Change Date1986-05-23
Edition Date2024-08-14
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsGymnocarpium dryopteris is a fern in cool, coniferous and mixed woods and at base of shale talus slopes with a circumboreal distribution, occurring in northern and Central Europe, northern Asia to China and Japan, and North America throughout Canada, the northern United States and extending south at high elevations to Arizona, New Mexico, and West Virginia. Threats include invasive species, timber harvest, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsGymnocarpium dryopteris has a circumboreal distribution, occurring in northern and Central Europe, northern Asia to China and Japan, and North America throughout Canada, the northern United States and extending south at high elevations to Arizona, New Mexico, and West Virginia (FNA 1993).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by invasive species, timber harvest, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand the scope and severity of threats for this taxon. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.