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Asplenium scolopendrium

L.

Hart's Tongue Fern

Aspleniaceae

Asplenium scolopendrium is a species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae. It is native to Europe, and there is a rare variety that is scattered throughout eastern North America and Mexico. The European variety is grown as an ornamental.

Description

Asplenium scolopendrium is an erect plant; stems have small brown lanceolate scales. Leaves are simple, linear, and are 8 to 35 cm long and 2 to 4.5 cm wide. The leaves are a smooth yellow-green. They are borne on dull brownish-yellow stalks, with similar lanceolate scales. Sori are linear, perpendicular to the stem, and located nearer to the tips (FNAEC 1993).

Asplenium scolopendrium has a variety americanum, which is described above. Compared to the typical European variety, it has smaller leaves, and sori restricted to the tips of the leaves (FNAEC 1993). While the European variety is diploid (having two sets of chromosomes), the American variety is tetraploid (having four sets of chromosomes) (Cullina 2008). Another variety, lindenii, is poorly known (Testo and Watkins 400).

Uses

​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.

Asplenium scolopendrium is sometimes grown as an ornamental, but only the European variety is grown. It prefers limestone soils, and part to full shade, growing in zones USDA zones 5 to 9 (MBG). In contrast, the American variety is extremely difficult to grow (Cullina 2008).

Distribution

Asplenium scolopendrium var. scolopendrium is native to Europe, western Asia, and Japan (Testo and Watkins 2011). Variety americanum is rare, found near sinkholes, screes, and caves in deep shade at altitudes of up to 100 m. It is found in Ontario, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Alabama, and Nuevo León in Mexico (FNAEC 1993). Variety lindenii has been found in southern Mexico and Hispaniola (Testo and Watkins 2011).

Status

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References

Cullina, W. 2008. <i>Native ferns, moss & grasses.</i> Boston: Houghton Mifflin.<br><br>FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. <i>Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms</i>. New York: Oxford University Press.<br><br>MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Asplenium scolopendrium. <i>Plant Finder</i>. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. <a>www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b244</a><br><br>Testo, W. L., and Watkins, J. E. 2011. Comparative Development and Gametophyte Morphology of the Harts-Tongue Fern, <i>Asplenium scolopendrium</i> L. <i>The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society</i> 138(4): 400–408.

Description
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