maidenhair spleenwort
ExplorePlants
maidenhair spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes
Maidenhair spleenwort is a lovely little fern that grows in cool, shady places. Its delicate, fan-shaped leaves are bright green and look like tiny feathers!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The maidenhair spleenwort is a small, elegant fern distinguished by its slender, dark reddish-brown stems that provide a striking contrast to the round, bright green leaflets arranged neatly along them. Its delicate fronds often grow in tight, charming rosettes, clinging to rocky surfaces.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyAspleniaceaeGenusAsplenium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Instead of seeds, it creates invisible, dust-like spores to travel and grow new ferns!
Its dark, shiny stems were once used by children to make tiny, pretend dolls or figures!
Some people call it 'Wall Rue' because it loves to grow out of cracks in old stone walls!
Wow! This little fern can cling to rocks for over 100 years, growing in the same spot!
Special abilities
Ability
Crack Climber
Maidenhair spleenwort can anchor itself securely in tiny rock crevices using tough, fibrous roots that help it thrive where other plants cannot.
Ability
Spore Sprinter
This fern has tiny, dust-like spores on the underside of its leaves, which can be carried by wind to colonize new, distant rocky homes.
Ability
Drought Defender
The maidenhair spleenwort can curl its fronds tight during dry spells to save water, unrolling them again when moisture returns.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 10-20 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eaten by
Spanish slug
Arion lusitanicus
This slug may occasionally graze on its fronds.
eaten by
common garden snail
Helix aspersa
Snails can sometimes feed on the fern's delicate leaves.
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.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is maidenhair spleenwort?
5-30 cm
How wide does maidenhair spleenwort spread?
10-20 cm
Is maidenhair spleenwort edible?
No
Is maidenhair spleenwort toxic?
None
What is maidenhair spleenwort's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is maidenhair spleenwort usually found?
Forests
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