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Ferns.

Jacob S Suissa1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|June 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ferns are a highly successful and diverse group of ancient vascular plants, not just relics of the past. Their evolutionary history reveals remarkable persistence and diversification, challenging common perceptions.

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Area of Science:

  • * Botany
  • * Evolutionary Biology
  • * Paleobotany

Background:

  • * Ferns (Pteridophyta) are ancient vascular plants with a lineage dating back 400 million years.
  • * Common perception often limits ferns to cool, damp forest understories, overlooking their broader ecological roles.
  • * Despite their ancient origins, ferns represent a major evolutionary success story in plant diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To challenge the narrow perception of ferns as solely shade-loving understory plants.
  • * To explore the evolutionary history and diversification of ferns.
  • * To highlight the extensive species richness and ecological diversity of modern ferns.

Main Methods:

  • * Review of evolutionary history and phylogenetic data.
  • * Analysis of ecological niches and distribution patterns.
  • * Synthesis of current knowledge on fern species richness and diversity.

Main Results:

  • * Ferns are one of the most species-rich groups of vascular plants, second only to angiosperms.
  • * Ferns occupy a wide range of ecological niches globally, far beyond forest understories.
  • * The group demonstrates significant evolutionary success and ongoing diversification.

Conclusions:

  • * Ferns are a dynamic and diverse component of global flora, not merely ancient survivors.
  • * Understanding fern diversity requires appreciating their broad evolutionary history and ecological adaptability.
  • * This primer provides an overview of fern evolutionary success and ecological breadth.