Claytosmunda claytoniana (Linnaeus) Metzgar & Rouhan. Interrupted Fern. Phen: Mar-Jun. Hab: Upland forests, woodlands, and balds, moist (or even wet) to rather dry. Dist: NL (Newfoundland) west to MN, south to n. GA, n. AL, TN, and AR; disjunct in e. and sc. Asia (the Asian plants sometimes separated as a variety).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: A fossil from the Triassic is seemingly indistinguishable from this species and suggests "that O. claytoniana has perhaps been in morphological stasis for at least 200 million years and also that the genus Osmunda is at least this old" (Metzgar et al. 2008).

Synonymy: = Bomfleur, Grimm, & McLoughlin (2015), Bomfleur, Grimm, & McLoughlin (2017), Metzgar et al (2008), PPG I (2016); = Osmunda claytoniana – Ar, FNA2, G, Il, K1, K3, Mo1, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Sf, Tat, Tn, W, WV, Lin et al (2013); = Osmundastrum claytonianum (L.) Tagawa – K4; > Osmunda claytoniana var. claytoniana – C, F, Va

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (name change)
• Great Plains: FAC (name change)
• Midwest: FAC (name change)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (name change)

Heliophily: 5