Ctenitis sloanei


Ctenitis sloanei is a species of wood fern native to USA, Bermuda, Cuba, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. Although it does not belong to the order Cyatheales, it is still considered by some to be a type of tree fern. This would make it the only tree fern native to the continental United States. A member of the genus Ctenitis, it was formerly classified under the genus Dryopteris as Dryopteris ampla. The population of this fern has been damaged and it is noted to possibly be endangered.

Description

Ctenitis sloanei mainly grows in moist tropical hammocks and near exposed limestone. It is a perennial which grows up to 1.21 meters tall on average. The fern is also evergreen.