Hart's-tongue fern
ExplorePlants
Hart's-tongue fern
Asplenium scolopendrium
The Hart's-tongue fern is a unique plant with long, wavy leaves that look like tongues! It loves to grow in shady places, making it a special find in the forest.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Hart's-tongue fern has long, bright green, strap-like leaves that are glossy and undivided, unlike most other ferns. Its distinctive fronds, often wavy at the edges, emerge from a central rosette, forming a lush, upright clump.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyAspleniaceaeGenusAsplenium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Hart's-tongue ferns are ancient plants, dating back over 300 million years!
Its spores grow in parallel lines on the frond's underside, resembling fuzzy caterpillars!
Some varieties can develop frilly, crested tips, making them look even fancier!
This fern's unique leaves look like a green tongue, making it easy to identify!
Special abilities
Ability
Spore Shooter
Hart's-tongue fern can reproduce using tiny spores, like microscopic dust, instead of seeds, helping it spread widely.
Ability
Limestone Lover
Hart's-tongue fern has adapted to thrive in alkaline soils, often growing on limestone rocks and old mortar, helping it find unique niches.
Ability
Evergreen Endurance
Hart's-tongue fern has tough, evergreen fronds that stay green all winter, helping it absorb sunlight year-round.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-60 cm
- Spread
- 20-75 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eaten by
grey field slug
Deroceras reticulatum
slugs may graze on fern fronds
eaten by
black slug
Arion ater
slugs consume parts of the fronds
Traits
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Hart's-tongue fern?
The easiest way to identify Hart's-tongue fern is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Hart's-tongue fern?
15-60 cm
How wide does Hart's-tongue fern spread?
20-75 cm
Is Hart's-tongue fern edible?
No
Is Hart's-tongue fern toxic?
None
What is Hart's-tongue fern's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Hart's-tongue fern usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
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