The Ostrich-fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), a state rare species, is protected along with 26 other species of fern found at GWMP.
The woods, marshes and swamps of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) provide habitat for 28 extant species of ferns and seven other vascular crytograms such as horsetails, quillworts and lycopoid clubmosses. Six additional species of ferns historically documented from GWMP are now belived to be extripated along with the spikemoss, Selaginella rupestris.
Did You Know?
The original gift of Cherry Trees from Japan in 1910 had to be destroyed due to disease and infestation. There was an additional gift made two years later that became the basis for the trees we still have today.
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