categoryZFerns Ferns List 

SEA SPLEENWORT

Asplenium marinum

Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae]

Fronds: overwintering
fronds8Jan fronds8Feb fronds8mar fronds8march fronds8apr fronds8april fronds8may fronds8jun fronds8june fronds8jul fronds8july fronds8Aug fronds8sep fronds8sept fronds8Oct fronds8Nov fronds8Dec

Spores: almost always ripe except mid-July to mid-August
spores8jan spores8feb spores8mar spores8march spores8apr spores8april spores8may spores8jun spores8june spores8sep spores8sept spores8oct spores8nov spores8dec

category
category8Ferns
status
statusZnative
stem
stem8oval
stem
stem8fluted

2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Grows in crevices and fissures of rocks, caves and walls near the sea and within the sea-spray zone.


2nd July 2011, a sea-cliff, Saltmills, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Grows in rocks, crevices, caves and walls which are exposed to sea-spray.


2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
A tufted plant with bright green and shiny fronds.


2nd July 2011, a sea-cliff, Saltmills, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Young fronds look similar to those of (inland) Parsley Fern.


2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Leaves both glossy and fleshy un-like those of Maidenhair Spleenwort.


2nd July 2011, a sea-cliff, Saltmills, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Another young specimen. Note spores on the lowest frond which is over-turned.


8th Oct 2011, Nook Harbour, Campile, Co. Wexford, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
An older plant, leaflets longer and more ellipsoidal. Leaflets almost opposite, but sometimes more alternate.


1st Oct 2011, a sea-cliff, Saltmills, Wexford, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Leaflets have the appearance of being opposite, but they grow ± alternate.


8th Oct 2011, Nook Harbour, Campile, Co. Wexford, Eire. Photo: © Paula O'Meara
Showing the ridges (or are they grooves) in the otherwise flattish stems. Leaflets rather leathery, and over-wintering.


2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Upper surface (left) and underside (right).


2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Un-ripe sori.


2nd Aug 2013, Hilbre Island, Wirral, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Close-up of spores of young plant, which are almost always ripe (except between mid-July to mid-August). They grow in canoe-shaped outward facing rows in lines between or half-under two folds of semi-transparent membranous tissue.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

Needs to grow in a location where it can get splashed by sea-spray, but certainly not ever in the sea. Thus sea-cliffs and walls near the sea are a favourite. The only exception to this need to be splashed by sea spray occurs in SW Ireland.

Sea Spleenwort, like Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium capillus-veneris) and Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride), is singly pinnate, but these other two have shorter leaves and look quite different. Black Spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum) and Irish Spleenwort (Asplenium onopteris) are more fern-like being 2-pinnate.

Sea Spleenwort is tufted with rather tough and leathery leaves which last throughout the year and over winter. The fronds are a bright green and 15-20cm long, the mid-rib green


  Asplenium marinum  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Aspleniaceae  

Distribution
 family8Spleenwort family8Aspleniaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Asplenium
Asplenium
(Spleenworts)

SEA SPLEENWORT

Asplenium marinum

Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae]

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