Asplenium montanum — mountain spleenwort
![Leaf: Asplenium montanum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-montanum-le-ahaines.jpg)
![Leaf: Asplenium montanum. ~ By Elizabeth Farnsworth. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-montanum-le-efarnsworth.jpg)
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Facts
Mountain spleenwort is principally an Appalachian species, extending into New England at the northern limit of its range. It inhabits primarily non-calcareous cliffs, and is rare and protected in Connecticut, Rhode Island, western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- ridges or ledges
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Connecticut
- rare to uncommon (S-rank: S2S3), special concern (code: SC)
- Massachusetts
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Rhode Island
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), state endangered (code: SE)
- Vermont
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), threatened (code: T)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Asplenium montanum Willd. NC
mountain spleenwort. CT, MA, RI, VT; in MA confined to western portion of state, in VT confined to southern portion of state. Primarily non-calcareous cliffs.
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Asplenium ruta-muraria:
- leaf blades usually with 2-5 pairs of leaflets, dull blue-green in life, with rhombic to obtriangular-obovate leaflets (vs. A. montanum, leaf blades usually with 5-10 pairs of leaflets, shiny green in life, with triangular-lanceolate to triangular-ovate leaflets).