Ferns List |
Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae] |
Fronds: overwintering |
Spores: almost always ripe except mid-July to mid-August |
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 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 |
Asplenium (Spleenworts) |
Spleenwort Family [Aspleniaceae] |