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Rustyback
ExplorePlants
Rustyback
Asplenium ceterach
The Rustyback is a special type of fern that loves to grow on rocks and walls. Its leaves are green with a rusty color on the back, making it look unique and beautiful!
Habitat: Rocky areas
Appearance
The Rustyback is a small, resilient fern with deep green, lance-shaped fronds that are distinctly pleated or crinkled. Its most striking feature is the underside of its fronds, which are densely covered in reddish-brown, scale-like hairs, giving it a 'rusty' appearance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyAspleniaceaeGenusAsplenium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It often grows on old walls and ruins, making ancient places feel even more magical!
People once thought this fern could help with spleen problems, giving it the old name 'Spleenwort'!
Rustyback's tiny spores are so light, they can float far away on the wind to find new homes!
This tough little fern can dry out completely and then come back to life when it rains!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Defiance
Rustyback can curl its fronds tightly when dry to prevent water loss, unfurling again when moisture returns.
Ability
Crack Dweller
Rustyback has strong, fibrous roots that help it cling to tiny cracks in rocks, anchoring it securely in harsh environments.
Ability
Spore Sprinter
Rustyback can release microscopic spores into the wind, allowing it to spread and colonize new, high-up places.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-25 cm
- Spread
- 5-15 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eaten by
Spanish slug
Arion lusitanicus
slugs sometimes graze on its fronds
eaten by
garden snail
Helix aspersa
snails can munch on its leaves
shelters
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common rough woodlouse
Porcellio scaber
under fronds provides hiding spots
Traits
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.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants unless an adult says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Rustyback?
5-25 cm
How wide does Rustyback spread?
5-15 cm
Is Rustyback edible?
No
Is Rustyback toxic?
None
What is Rustyback's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Rustyback usually found?
Rocky areas
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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