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Asplenium ruta-muraria - (image 1 of 3)

Taxonomy

Family: Aspleniaceae

Habitat

Calcareous cliffs, ledges and rocks.

Associates

Sometimes with Pellaea atropurpurea

Distribution

Circumboreal, south in North America to MA and VT west to MI, south to AL, IL, MO, and AR.

Morphology

Rhizome 1.5-2 mm diameter with lanceolate scale 1.5-4 mm long; leaves spreading, 4-17 mm, petiole to 7 cm, blade green, onate or rhombix, firm, bipinnate or bipinnate-pinnatifid below, pinnate above, rachis green; pinnae alternate, in about 6 pairs, on petiolules 2-5, the basal ones with 3-6 finely toothed and sometimes deeply lobed pinnules to 12 mm.

Notes

Spores produced July to Fall

Wetland Indicator: UPL

A small, easily overlooked fern usually found on limestone cliffs but sometimes on boulders and even rock walls.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.

The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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