History of fern systematics at The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden has had only two fern curators: L. M. Underwood (1896–1907) and J. T. Mickel (1969-present). Both curators published milestone manuals on the North American ferns and conducted research on tropical American pteridophytes. After Underwood’s death. J. K. Small, though not a fern curator, published manuals on the ferns of New York and the southeastern United States. The current fern program is a broad one, involving the herbarium, horticulture, and outside support groups.