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Asplenium montanum — mountain spleenwort

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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

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Show all characteristics
  • 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).

Family

Aspleniaceae

Genus

Asplenium