Which habitats do ferns grow in besides damp forests?

While ferns are most commonly associated with shaded, damp forests, they are highly diverse and inhabit a wide range of environments. Beyond forests, ferns can be found in the following habitats:12

• Rocky Habitats: Many species are strictly epipetric, growing in the fissures and crevices of cliff faces, boulders, and taluses. They are often categorized by the type of rock they inhabit, such as acidic granites and sandstones or alkaline calcites and dolomites.1
• Epiphytic Environments: In tropical regions, a significant number of ferns grow as epiphytes on the trunks, branches, or crowns of trees.13
• Open and Exposed Sites: Some ferns, known as "sun ferns," thrive in fully exposed areas. This includes open fields, pastures, and cleared forests, where species like bracken are commonly found.12
• Aquatic and Wetland Areas: Certain ferns are aquatic, floating on the surface of ponds, ditches, lakes, and sluggish riverine backwaters. Others are found in bogs and marshes, including salt marshes.241
• Arid Regions: Surprisingly, some water ferns inhabit dry regions, appearing rapidly after rains to complete their life cycles. Other species have developed structural adaptations, such as waxy cuticles and scales, to survive in dry, rocky, or exposed environments.1