Northern Beech Fern
Phegopteris connectilis
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phegopteris_connectilis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Thelypteridaceae
Genus
Phegopteris
Northern Beech Fern belongs to the family Thelypteridaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Northern Beech Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and forest fragmentation, particularly in its preferred cool, moist woodland environments. Climate change poses additional risks by altering temperature and moisture regimes essential for this species' survival, while invasive species competition and human development pressures further compromise remaining populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Northern Beech Fern inhabits cool, moist deciduous and mixed forests, particularly in areas with rich, well-drained soils and partial shade. The species is typically found in beech-maple forests, ravines, and woodland slopes at elevations ranging from sea level to montane regions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Northern Beech Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and forest fragmentation, particularly in its preferred cool, moist woodland environments. Climate change poses additional risks by altering temperature and moisture regimes essential for this species' survival, while invasive species competition and human development pressures further compromise remaining populations.
Climate change and altered moisture regimes
Habitat loss and forest fragmentation
Human development and land conversion
Invasive species competition
Logging and forest management practices
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Northern Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/northern-beech-fern