Ferns, Spikemosses, Clubmosses, and Quillworts of Eastern North America

Abstract

I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Emily Sessa, the author of this extraordinary field guide, for over 15 years. Our paths first crossed at a field course on Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes in Costa Rica, sponsored by the Organization for Tropical Studies. Since then, we have regularly seen each other at botanical conferences, workshops, and American Fern Society meetings, among others. When I learned that Emily was embarking on the ambitious project of writing this book, I was both amazed and thrilled. Creating a comprehensive guide covering such an extensive region—from Peninsular Florida and the outer southern coastal plains to the central United States, the northern Midwest, the Northeast, and Canada—is a big task, and Emily has accomplished it with remarkable skill and dedication.

            In 2023, during the Botanical Society of America meetings in Boise, Idaho, Emily shared with us some of her field stories while working on the book. She even showed us some of the pages she was proofreading, and I was struck by the sheer amount of work and passion she had poured into this project. Now, holding the finished book in my hands, I can say that my excitement was well-founded.