Ferns List |
Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae] |
Fronds: |
Spores: |
5th June 2012, Shropshire Union Canal, from Canal Boat. | Photo: © RWD |
Mixed in with other taller ferns, Hart's-tongue Fern are the shorter sprays of slightly lighter-green un-divided (entire) leaves. Grows in damp and darkish places. |
10th May 2015, Nob End, Ringley, Bolton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Young specimens un-furling, displaying their scaly rachis which is not usually visible in older much taller examples. |
25th April 2015, Dibbinsdale, Bromborough, Wirral. | Photo: © RWD |
The scales on the rachis are white at first, turning brown. |
5th Aug 2005, Padley Gorge, Grindleford, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
Older specimens crinled. |
10th Jan 2007, Peak Forest Canal, Strines | Photo: © RWD |
10th Jan 2007, Peak Forest Canal, Strines | Photo: © RWD |
10th May 2015, Nob End, Ringley, Bolton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The two lower lobes of the leaf curve forwards. |
10th May 2015, Nob End, Ringley, Bolton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The croziers un-furling. |
10th May 2015, Nob End, Ringley, Bolton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Scales on the rachis. |
30th Aug 2012, Fyfe, Scotland. | Photo: © John Brailsford |
The spores in autumn are in neat rows arranged in a herringbone pattern on the reverse of the leaf. |
30th Aug 2012, Fyfe, Scotland. | Photo: © John Brailsford |
The rows are coralled by two white parallel membranes shaped line narrow canoes in which the small spherical and brown sporangia reside. The sporangia contain the spores which are minute. |
27th April 2013, Blackleach Resr, Walkden, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
Sporangia have probably been released? |
25th April 2015, Dibbinsdale, Bromborough, Wirral. | Photo: © RWD |
Young specimens have long white hairs both sides. |
Uniquely identifiable characteristics Britains only fern with tufts of strap-shaped often wavy evergreen leaves which are between 4 and 20 inches long. The spore cases are on the reverse of the leaves, in slightly curved rows. The spores ripen between August to March. It prefers to inhabit walls, rocks, woods and hedge-banks, and favours the West of Britain. Although it is almost ubiquitous throughout Britain, it is generally absent from the Scottish Highlands. No relation to: Hound's-tongue nor Adder's-tongue [plants of similar name, but differing family]. Hybridizes with :
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Asplenium | scolopendrium | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Aspleniaceae |
Asplenium (Spleenworts) |
Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae] |