Publications on this list will help visitors to the Preserve to identify and appreciate ferns found in the Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve as well as learn about the ecology of the ferns they encounter. Be aware, however, that studies of the classification of plants based on molecular data has resulted in nomenclatural changes made after some of the references in this list were published; thus, more current names may have priority over the names used in these publications. For example, Osmunda cinammomea (cimmanon fern) is now a synonym of Osmundastrum cinammomea, i.e., the latter name is the one that pteridologists accept.
Chadde, S. W. 2013. Northeast Ferns. A Field Guide to the Ferns and Fern Relatives of the Northeastern United States. Published by the author. This book includes keys, descriptions with ample illustrations, and distribution maps of 19 families and 36 genera of true ferns and 3 families and 8 genera of fern relatives (quillworts [Equisetaceae], clubmosses [Lycopodiaceae], and spikemosses [Selaginellaceae]).
Gleason, H. A. & A. J. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden. 993 pp. This book provides keys and short descriptions of the vascular plant species of the northeastern United States.
Holmgren, Noel H. 1998. Illustrated companion to Gleason and Cronquist’s Manual: Illustrations of the vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden Press. xx + 937 pp.
Mickel, J. & E. Fiore. 1979. The Home Gardener’s Book of Ferns. Ridge Press Books of Holt of Rinehart & Winston. 252 pp. This book is dedicated to how to cultivate ferns but it also includes a great of information about the classification and natural history of them.
Moran, R. C. 2004. A Natural History of Ferns. Timber Press. 301 pp. A must reading for those interested in learning about all aspects of ferns.
Moran, R. C., A. V. Gilman & D. R. Farrar. 2016. Division Polypodiopsida, Ferns. Online edition. R.F.C. Naczi, J. R. Abbott, and Collaborators, New Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada, compiled in 2016, 2017. NYBG Press, New York. 75 pp. The following genera are treated in this publication:. Equisitaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Osmundaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Lygodiaceae, Schizaeaceae, Marsileaceae, Salviniaceae, Aspleniaceae, Athyriaceae, Blechnaceae, Cystopteridaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Diplaziopsidaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Onoceaceae, Polypodiaceae, Pteropsidaceae, Thelypteridaceae, Woodsiadaceae.
PPG I. 2016. A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54: 563–603.
This publication is important for those wanting to understand the current interpretation of the evolution of lycopods, Selaginella, Isoetes, and ferns. It includes a list of accepted genera and a phylogeny of the entire group.
Wiley, F. A. 1973. Ferns of Northeastern United States. Illustrations and Descriptions of All Known Species in the New England and Middle Atlantic States. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. 108 pp. This booket can still be purchased on the Internet. It is useful for the descriptions, the black-and-white illustrations, and images of the arrangement of vascular bundles of the species treated. Since the publication of this book many of the names of the genera have been changed.