26. Summary - endangered and threatened species 



Name of species: Dryopteris cristata (Crested shield fern) 



Species legal status and authority: Threatened in North 

 Carolina. Cooper et al. 1977. 



Number of populations on site: Unknown. Not abundant. 



Number of individuals per population: Unknown (few). 



Size or maturity of individuals: Healthy, reproducing plants. 



Phenology of population: 



Eg: vegetative % Most individuals producing sori. 



flowering % 



fruiting % 

 General vigor of population: Small, fragile population. 



Disturbance or threats to population: Logging, lowering of 

 water table by ditching or change in hydrology during widening of 

 US 158 at sometime in future, or overrunning of site by Japanese 

 honeysuckle could eliminate this species. 



Habitat characteristics 



Plant community: CT-A 



Topography: Flat lower toe of Suffolk Scarp. 



Soil series: Shown Bladen loam on 1929 soil map. 



Microclimate: Cooler and moister than natural area climate. 



Drainage basin: Perquimans River, 



Other plants and animal species present: Red maple, 

 american holly, seven other Dryopteris taxa. 



Aerial or detailed maps with populations clearly marked: 



24 



