Asplenium platyneuron — ebony spleenwort
![Leaf: Asplenium platyneuron. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-platyneuron-le-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Plant form: Asplenium platyneuron. ~ By Bruce Patterson. ~ Copyright © 2024 Bruce Patterson. ~ foxpatterson[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-platyneuron-ha-bpatterson-b.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Asplenium platyneuron. ~ By Bruce Patterson. ~ Copyright © 2024 Bruce Patterson. ~ foxpatterson[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-platyneuron-ld-bpatterson-a.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Asplenium platyneuron. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-platyneuron-ld-ahaines-b.jpg)
Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click it to see who you will need to contact.
Facts
Ebony spleenwort is a common species of rocky slopes on thin soil, sometimes on nearly bare rock or mortar. This species is unique among ferns for its anomalous distribution that includes both eastern North America and southern Africa. Unlike other spleenworts, ebony spleenwort has dimorphic leaf blades, with the fertile (spore-bearing) leaves being tall and erect, while the sterile leaves are short and prostrate or arching.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, talus and rocky slopes, woodlands
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.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Leaf divisions
- the leaf blade is compound (divided into leaflets)
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
- Leaf divisions
- the leaf blade is compound (divided into leaflets)
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- talus or rocky slopes
- woodlands
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Maine
- rare (S-rank: S2), special concern (code: SC)
- Massachusetts
- widespread (S-rank: S5)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
2. Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton N
ebony spleenwort. Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton var. incisum (Howe ex Peck) B.L. Robins. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT; in ME only the southwestern portion of state. Rocky, circumneutral slopes, usually growing on thin soil, occasionally on rock or mortar.
2×3. Asplenium platyneuron × Asplenium rhizophyllum → Asplenium ×ebenoides R.R. Scott is a rare spleenwort hybrid known primarily from western New England ( CT, MA, NH, VT). Given that Asplenium ×ebenoides is chiefly sterile (i.e., produces abortive spores) and occurs with both parental species, it is appropriate to refer to our material as a nothospecies. The Hale County, Alabama, populations that are fertile tetraploids have appropriately (and finally) been provided a separate name— A. tutwilerae B.R. Keener & R.J. Davenport—because those populations represent an allotetraploid species.
Native to North America?
Yes
Synonyms
- Asplenium platyneuron (L.) B.S.P. var. incisum (Howe ex Peck) B.L. Robins.