New York Natural Heritage Program
Hart's-tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum (Fern.) Kartesz & Gandhi
Ferns
Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum Stephen M. Young
Family: Spleenwort Family (Aspleniaceae)

State Protection: Threatened Species
This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 6 to fewer than 20 extant sites, or 2) 1,000 to fewer than 3,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to not less than 4 or more than 7 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or 4) listed as threatened by U.S. Department of the Interior.

Federal Protection: Listed As Threatened
This level of federal protection means: this species is formally listed as threatened.


State Rarity Rank: S2
A State Rarity Rank of S2 means: This plant is threatened/imperiled in New York because of rarity (typically 6-20 populations or few remaining individuals) or is vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological factors.

Global Rarity Rank: T3
A Global Rarity Rank of T3 means: This variety/subspecies is either rare and local throughout its range (21 to 100 occurrences), or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g. a single physiographic region), or vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.


Did you know?
The American Hart's-tongue fern is listed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service as federally threatened. This is one of only a handful of New York plants protected under the Endangered Species Act. Approximately 90% of the known plants in the US are found right here in New York.
State Ranking Justification
There are fewer than twenty populations or sub-populations of this federally threatened species in New York. These populations are restricted to the Syracuse area. Most of the populations are currently threatened by various invasive species, but in particular, swallow-wort is a serious problem.