Asplenium platyneuron (Linnaeus) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenburg. Common name: Ebony Spleenwort. Phenology: (Jan-) Apr-Oct (-Dec). Habitat: Moist to dry soils of forests, woodlands, old fields; also on outcrops, especially of calcareous rocks and in masonry crevices, at low to moderate elevations. Distribution: QC, ON, se. MN, IA, and se. CO south to FL, TX, NM, and AZ (and varieties or relatives reported from Central and South America); Slovakia; South Africa.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: A. platyneuron var. incisum does not seem to warrant taxonomic recognition. Strikingly large plants of the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain and Gulf Coastal Plain have been named var. bacculum-rubrum (Featherman) Fernald; they are probably not worthy of taxonomic recognition. They can be distinguished as follows: var. bacculum-rubrum has the longest pinnae > 3.5-6 cm long, the pinnae often coarsely serrate-incised to pinnatifid and the larger leaves to (30-) 40-70 (-100) cm tall, with 45-70 pairs of pinnae (vs. longest pinnae < 3.5 cm long, pinnae subentire to pinnatifid, larger leaves to 20-45 (-50) cm tall, with 25-50 pairs of pinnae).
Other Comments: This species is one of the diploid progenitors involved in the reticulately evolved Appalachian Asplenium complex. It is one parent of A. bradleyi and A. ×ebenoides (as well as other sterile hybrids). A. platyneuron in general, and var. platyneuron specifically, is by far the most common of our Asplenium species, and the only one found characteristically away from rock.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, ETx1, Fl1, FNA2, GrPl, K4, Mo1, NE, NY, Ok, Pa, RAB, S13, Sf, SFla, Tat, Tn, Tx, TxFerns, Va, W, WH3, WV, Keener & Davenport (2007); Acrostichum platyneuron L. — (basionym); = Asplenium ebeneum Aiton; > Asplenium ebeneum Aiton var. bacculum-rubrum Featherm.; > Asplenium ebeneum Aiton var. incisum Howe ex Peck; > Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. var. bacculum-rubrum (Featherm.) Fernald — F, G, NS, POWO, Taylor, Mohlenbrock, & Burton (1976); > Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. var. incisum (Howe ex Peck) B.L.Rob. — F, Il, NS, Taylor, Mohlenbrock, & Burton (1976); > Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. var. platyneuron — F, G, Il, NS, POWO, Taylor, Mohlenbrock, & Burton (1976); > Asplenium platyneuron var. proliferum D.C.Eaton — NS
Links to other floras: = Asplenium platyneuron - FNA2
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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Horticultural Information
Intro | Stems | Leaves | Inforescence | Flowers | Fruits | Comments | Height | plant sale text | bloom table text | description | stems | leaves | inflorescence | flowers | fruits | comments | cultural notes | germination code | native range |
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1 ft. | This small Southeastern native evergreen fern grows in open woodlands throughout North Carolina. Well-drained soil with consistent moisture is necessary for it to develop a good root system. Once established, it is more tolerant of slightly dry soils than most ferns. Mature plants of this species grow into small clumps that serve well as accents in the garden. | east & central North America |
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